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POEMS 



GERALD MASSEY 



POEMS 



BY 



GERALD MASSEY 



A NEW EDITION, 
REVISED AND GREATLY ENLARGED. 



FIFTH EDITION. 



BOSTON: 
TICKNOR AND FIELDS. 

M.DCCC.LXV. 






^ 



■P9L 



To J. T. FIELDS. 

My dear Fexds : — Will you let me inscribe this new Book of 
mine with your name, as a little memento of our brief but pleas- 
ant intercourse on a certain summer day in England. I have 
all Leigh Hunt's feeling with regard to a pocket edition of poetry. 
It was through a pocket edition I first got at poetry. In a 
pocket edition I first read the poetry of Longfellow, Bryant, 
Whittier, Lowell, (why don't he write more?) Holmes, (Happy 
Autocrat ! I dare say he does not need me to tell him that his 
latest Book is one of the most charming that ever crossed the 
sea, on either passage,) and the Essays of Emerson, (what a cap- 
ital Book is that " English Traits ; " I read it more than most in 
these days.) But of all pocket editions I think yours the choic- 
est and am proud to find myself in its goodly company. The 
Blue and Gold are true colors also to sail under in crossing the 
Atlantic, and I desire to thank your firm for their fair and gen- 
erous dealing with myself, and for their manner of getting up a 
bonny little book. In this volume will be found some one hun- 
dred and thirty to one hundred and forty pages of new matter. 
The series of "Christie's Poems," "England and Louis Napo- 
leon," " Burns," and " Appendix," are mainly new. The rest 
are scattered through the various other sections. The old mat- 
ter has undergone a thorough revision. I should have preferred 
to leave a good deal out, but it was thought best to retain the 
earlier poems as they are. You must let me use my English 
privilege and have one grumble at your previous title of "Poet- 
ical Works," as too presumptuous in its challenge. As yet I 
am a Man of Faith — for the future — rather than of Works. 
And so I remain, 

Faithfully yours, 

GERALD MASSEY. 

Brantwood, Coniston. — Lake Country. 
May, 1860. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGK 

A Biographic Sketch xv 

Preface to the Third Edition of Babe Christabel xxv 

THE BALLAD OF BABE CHRISTABEL. 

The Ballad of Babe Christabel 3 

SONGS FOR SINGING. 

A National Anthem 17 

Old England 18 

Long, Long Ago 19 

That Merry, Merry May 20 

To-Day and To-Morrow 21 

The Kingliest Kings 22 

Our Native Land 23 

A Lover's Fancy 25 

The Chivalry of Labour 26 

lay thy Hand in Mine, Dear! 27 

Song 28 

Love's Fairy Ring 28 

There 's no Dearth of Kindness 30 

My Love 32 

The Golden Wedding-Ring 32 

No Jewelled Beauty is my Love 34 

Now and Then 35 

Song 35 

Bridal Song 36 

Lullaby 37 

The Two Roses 38 

Song 39 

Hugh Miller's Grave 40 

LADY LAURA. 

Lady Laura 47 



CONTENTS. 



POEMS FOR CHRISTIE. 



For Christie's Sake 81 

Hunt the Squirrel 84 

Christie's Poor Old Gran 86 

News of Christie 88 

Little Willie « 88 

Christie's Portrait 90 

My Maid Marian 92 

Robin's Song 98 

The Maiden Marriage 99 

Not Lost, but Gone Before .* 100 

The Poet 101 

Little Lilybell 102 

Our White Dove 103 

Our Little Child with Radiant Eyes 107 

The Sunbeam and the Rose 108 

Craigcrook Roses 109 

The Singer 110 

A Maiden's Song Ill 

Poor Biddy 112 

When Christie Comes Again 113 

ONLY A DREAM. 
Only a Dream 119 

ENGLAND AND LOUIS NAPOLEON. 

England and Louis Napoleon. 1855 133 

The Old Flag 135 

England and Louis Napoleon. May, 1859 139 

The Broad-Bottomed Ministry 148 

Old Harlequin Pam 150 

The Sea Kings 152 

THE MOTHER'S IDOL BROKEN. 
The Mother's Idol Broken 159 

Robert Burns. A Centenary Song 175 

To a Bereaved Friend 188 

Long Expected 190 

Wooed and Won 193 

The Bridal 195 

Wedded Love 199 



CONTENTS. ix 
LYRICS OF LOVE. 

PAGE 

My Bonny Lady 209 

To a Beloved One 211 

When I Come Home 212 

Ichabod * » 214 

Husband and Wife 216 

Love Me , 218 

Love-in-Idleness 219 

Song 220 

A Ballad of the Old Time • 222 

[n the Night 223 

Sweet-and-Twenty 224 

A Lyric of Love 225 

Kisses 226 

Not I, Sweet Soul, not I.. 227 

A Poor Man's Wife 228 

Love 229 

t Love my Love, and my Love Loves me 230 

Under the Misletoe 232 

The Patriot to his Bride 233 

Sweet Spirit of my Love 235 

Matrimony 236 

Childless 237 

Deserted 237 

Desolate 238 

;< As the White Snow Crowns the Hills " 239 

11 In the Dead Unhappy Midnight " 239 

On a Wedding Day 240 

Song at Eventide 243 

THE BRIDEGROOM OF BEAUTY. 

The Bridegroom of Beauty 247 

GLIMPSES OF THE CRIMEAN WAR. 

Glimpses of the Crimean War 259 

England Goes to Battle 261 

Troops Leaving Edinburgh 263 

Down in Australia 265 

The Lilies of France and Our Own Red Kose 267 

After Alma 268 

Before Sebastopol 271 

Twine a Garland for the Grave 273 

The Death-Ride 275 

Our Heroes 276 



X CONTENTS. 

PAS1 

Our English Nightingale 278 

Inkerman 279 

Nicholas and the British Lion 285 

A Soldier's Wife. 287 

A War Winter's-Night in England. . . /. 288 

The Martyrs' Hill 291 

The Austrian .' 293 

The Exile to his Country 294 

Cathcart's Hill 296 

The Coalition and the People 298 

All Over 299 

MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 

Hood, who Sang the Song of the Shirt 303 

Sir Robert's Sailor Son 306 

The Old Land 308 

The Fighting Temeraire Tugged to her last Berth. . 309 

A Day at Craigcrook Castle 311 

New Year's Eve in Exile. 1854 325 

The Distant 330 

Pegasus in Harness 331 

Epitaph for a Painter of Still-Life who was very fond 

of Whiskey 331 

Life and Death 331 

Impatience 332 

On a very Early Riser 332 

The Three Spirits 332 

Lines Inscribed to the Rev. F. D. Maurice 337 

The Men of Forty-Eight 338 

The Patriot 339 

Our Fathers are Praying for Pauper-Pay 343 

They are but Giants while we Kneel 344 

Eighteen Hundred and Forty-Eight 347 

They who Fell for Hungary and Rome. 1850 351 

A Cry of the Peoples 352 

Hope On, Hope Ever 354 

The People's Advent 355 

Our Land 357 

The Cry of the Unemployed 359 

Song of the Red Republican 361 

Press On 363 

Anathema Maranatha 364 

The Lords of Land and Money 366 

The Deserter from the Cause 367 

All 's Right with the World 368 



CONTENTS. XI 

PAGB 

The Awakening of the People 369 

The Worker 370 

God's World is Worthy Better Men 371 

Nebraska: or, The Slavery- Abolitionist to his Bride. 372 

It will End in the Right 376 

A Welcome to Louis Kossuth 377 

Eden 379 

Onward and Sunward 380 

The Three Voices 381 

This World is Full of Beauty 383 

A Song in the City 385 

The Famine-Smitten 388 

Peace 390 

A Glimpse of Auld Lang-Syne 394 

Merry Christmas Eve 398 

The Chivalry of Labour Exhorted to the Worship of 

Beauty 400 

To My Wife. 1852 403 

Death of Havelock 407 

The Norseman 411 

Robert Blake 414 

The English of it 417 

Sir Richard Grenville's last Fight 419 



A BIOGRAPHIC SKETCH. 






A BIOGRAPHIC SKETCH. 

The reader of the miscellaneous literature of the 
day has doubtless met with the name of Gerald 
Massey attached to poems strikingly beautiful in 
language and intensely passionate in feeling. These 
poems have heretofore been published chiefly in 
journals which are yet in a great measure tabooed 
in what are regarded as " respectable literary cir- 
cles." The " Spirit of Freedom," a cheap journal, 
started in 1849, and written exclusively by work- 
ing-men, contained a large number of them; and 
others have since appeared in the " Christian So- 
cialist," a cheap journal conducted by Clergymen 
of the Church of England ; and many others also, 
of great beauty, have been published in the 
" Leader," a remarkably able journal conducted 
by Thornton Hunt, the son of the poet. 

You see at once that the writer is a man of vivid 
genius, and is full of the true poetic fire. Some of 
his earlier pieces are indignant expostulations with 
society at the wrongs of suffering humanity ; pas- 
sionate protests against those hideous disparities of 
life which meet our eye on every side ; against 
power wrongfully used ; against fraud and oppres- 
sion in their more rampant forms; mingled with 
appeals to the higher influences of knowledge, jus- 
tice, mercy, truth, and love. It is always thus with 
the poet who has worked his way to the light 



XVI A BIOGRAPHIC SKETCH. 

through darkness, suffering, and toil. Give a poor 
down-trodden man culture, and in nine cases out of 
ten, you only increase his sensitiveness to pain ; you 
agonize him with the sight of pleasures which are 
to him forbidden ; you quicken his sense of despair 
at the frightful inequalities of the human lot. 
There are thousands of noble natures, with minds 
which, under better circumstances, would have 
blessed and glorified their race, who have been for 
ever blasted — crushed into the mire — or con- 
demned to courses of .desperate guilt, — for one 
who, like Gerald Massey, has nobly risen above his 
trials and temptations, and triumphed over them. 
And when such a man does find a voice, surely 
" rose-water " verses and " hot-pressed " sonnets 
are not to be expected of him ; such things are not 
by any means the natural products of a life of des- 
perate struggling with poverty. When the self- 
risen and self-educated man speaks and writes 
now-a-days, it is of the subjects nearest to his heart. 
Literature is not a mere intelligent epicurism with 
men who have suffered and grown wise, but a real, 
earnest, passionate, vehement, living thing — a 
power to move others, a means to elevate them- 
selves, and to emancipate their order. This is a 
marked peculiarity of our times ; knowledge is now 
more than ever regarded as a power to elevate, not 
merely individuals, but classes. Hence "the most 
intelligent of working-men at this day are intensely 
political : we merely state this as a fact not to be 
disputed. In former times, when literature was 
regarded mainly in the light of a rich man's luxury, 
poets who rose out of the working-class sung as 
their patrons wished. Bloomfield and Clare sung 
of the quiet beauty of rural life, and painted pic- 
tures of evening skies, purling brooks, and grassy 
meads. Burns could with difficulty repress the 
" Jacobin " spirit which burned within him ; and 
yet even he was rarely, if ever, political in his tone. 



A BIOGRAPHIC SKETCH. Xvii 

His strongest verses, having a political bearing, 
were those addressed to the Scotch Representatives 
in reference to the Excise regulations as to the dis- 
tillation of whiskey. But come down to our own 
day, and mark the difference : Elliot, Nichol, Bam- 
ford, the author of " Ernest," the Chartist Epic, 
Davis, the " Belfast Man," De Jean, Massey, and 
many others, are intensely political ; and they de- 
fend themselves for their selection of subjects as 
Elliot did, when he said, " Poetry is impassioned 
truth ; and why should we not utter it in the 
shape that touches our condition the most closely 
— the political ? " But how it happens that the 
writings of working-men now-a-days so generally 
assume the political tone, will be best ascertained 
from the following sketch of the life of Gerald 
Massey. 

He was born in May, 1828, and is, therefore, 
barely twenty-three years of age. He first saw the 
light in a little stone hut near Tring, in Herts, one 
of those miserable abodes in which so many of our 
happy peasantry — their country's pride ! — are 
condemned to live and die. One shilling a week 
was the rent of this hovel, the roof of which was 
so low that a man could not stand upright in it. 
Massey's father was, and still is, a canal boatman, 
earning the wages of ten shillings a week. Like 
most other peasants in this " highly- favored Chris- 
tian country," he has had no opportunities of edu- 
cation, and never could write his own name. But 
Gerald Massey was blessed in his mother, from 
Avhoin he derived a finely-organized brain and a 
susceptible temperament. Though quite illiterate 
like her husband, she had a firm" free spirit — it's 
broken now ! — a tender yet courageous heart, and 
a pride of honest poverty which she never ceased 
to cherish. But she needed all her strength and 
courage to bear up under the privations of her lot. 
Sometimes the husband fell out of work ; and there 
b 



XVlii A BIOGRAPHIC SKETCH. 

was no bread in the cupboard, except what was 
purchased by the labor of the elder children, some 
of whom were early sent to work in the. neighbor- 
ing silk-mill. Disease, too, often fell upon the 
family, cooped up in that unwholesome hovel : in- 
deed, the wonder is, not that our peasantry should 
be diseased, and grow old and haggard before their 
time, but that they should exist at all in such lazar- 
houses and cesspools. 

None of the children of this poor family were 
educated, in the common acceptance of the term. 
Several of them were sent for a short time to a 
penny school, where the teacher and the taught 
were about on a par ; but so soon as they were of 
age to work, the children were sent to the silk-mill. 
The poor cannot afford to keep their children at 
school, if the)- are of an age to work and earn 
money. They must help to eke out their parents' 
slender gains, even though it be only by a few 
pence weekly. So, at eight years of age, Gerald 
Massey went into the silk manufactory, rising at 
five o'clock in the morning, and toiling there till 
half-past six in the evening; up in the gray dawn, 
or in the winter before the daylight, and trudging 
to the factory through the wind or in the snow; 
seeing the sun only through the factory windows ; 
breathing an atmosphere laden with rank oily 
vapor, his ears deafened by the roar of incessant 
wheels : — 

" Still all the day the iron wheels go onward, 
Grinding life down from its mark; 
And the children's soul.-, which God is calling sunwarl, 
Spin on blindly in the dark." 

What a life for a child ! What a substitute for 
tender prattle, for childish glee, for youthful play- 
time ! Then home, shivering under the cold, star- 
less sky, on Saturday nights, with dd., Is., or Is. 
3c?., for the whole week's work, for such were the 



A BIOGRAPHIC SKETCH. xix 

respective amounts of the wages earned by the child- 
labor of Gerald Massey. 

But the mill was burned down, and the children 
held jubilee over it The boy stood for twelve 
hours in the wind and .sleet and mud, rejoicing in 
the conflagration which thus liberated linn. Who 
can wonder at this ? Then he went to straw-plait- 
ing, — as toilsome, and, perhaps, more unwhole- 
some than factory-work. Without exercise, in a 
marshy district, the plaiters were constantly hav- 
ing racking attacks of ague. The boy had the 
disease for three years, ending with tertian ague. 
Sometimes four of the family and the mother lay 
ill at one time, all crying with thirst, with no one 
to give them drink, and each too weak to help the 
other. How little do we know of the sufferings 
endured by the poor and struggling classes of our 
population, especially in our rural districts ! No 
press echoes their wants, or records their suffer- 
ings ; and they live almost as unknown to us as if 
they were the inhabitants of some undiscovered 
country. 

And now take, as an illustration, the child-life 
of Gerald Massey. " Having had to earn my own 
dear bread," he says, " by the eternal cheapening 
of flesh and blood thus early, I never knew what 
childhood meant. I had no childhood. Ever 
since I can remember, I have had the aching fear 
of want, throbbing in heart and brow. The cur- 
rents of my life were early poisoned, and few, me- 
thinks, would pass unscathed through the scenes 
and circumstances in which I have lived ; none, if 
they were as curious and precocious as I was. The 
child comes into the world like a new coin with the 
stamp of God upon it; and in like manner as the 
Jews sweat down sovereigns, by hustling them in 
a bag to get gold-dust out of them, so is the poor 
man's child hustled and sweated down in this bag 
of society to get wealth out of it ; and even as the 



XX A EIOGKAPIIIC SKETCH. 

impress of the Queen is effaced by the Jewish 
process, so is the image of God worn from heart 
and brow, and day by day the child recedes devii- 
wanl. I look back now with wonder, not that so 
few escape, but that any escape at all, to win a 
nobler growth for their humanity. So blighting 
are the influences which surround thousands in 
early lite, to which I can bear such bitter testi- 
mony." 

And how fared the growth of this child's mind 
the while ? Thanks to the care of his mother, who 
had sent him to the penny school, he had learnt to 
read, and the desire to read had been awakened. 
Books, however, were very scarce. The Bible 
and Bunyan were the principal ; he committed 
many chapters of the former to memory, and ac- 
cepted all Bunyan's allegory as bond jide history. 
Afterwards he obtained access to u Robinson Cru- 
soe," and a few Wesleyan tracts left at the cottage. 
These constituted his sole reading, until he came 
up to London, at the age of fifteen, as an errand- 
boy ; and now. for the first time in his life, he met 
with plenty of books, reading all that came in his 
way, from " Lloyd's Penny Times," to Cobbett's 
Works, " French without a Master," together 
with English, Roman, and Grecian history. A 
ravishing awakenment ensued, — the delightful 
sense of growing knowledge, — the charm of new 
thought, — the wonders of a new world. "Till 
then," he says, " I had wondered why I lived at 
all, — whether 

' It was not better not to be, 
I was so full of misery.' 

Now I began to think that the crown of all desire, 
and the sum of all existence, was to read and get 
knowledge. Read, read, read ! I used to read 
at all possible times, and in all possible places; 
up in bed till two or three in the morning, — 



A BIOGRAPHIC SKETCH. XXI 

nothing daunted by once setting the bed on fire. 
Greatly indebted was I also to the bookstalls, 
where I have read a great deal, often folding a leaf 
in a book, and returning the next day to continue 
the subject ; but sometimes the book was gone, 
and then great was my grief! When out of a 
situation, I have often gone without a meal to 
purchase a bpok. Until I fell in love, and began 
to rhyme as a matter of consequence, I never had 
the. least predilection for poetry. In fact, I always 
eschewed it ; if I ever met with any, I instantly 
skipped it over, and passed on, as one does with 
the description of scenery, &c, in a novel. I al- 
ways loved the birds and flowers, the woods and 
the stars ; I felt delight in being alone in a summer- 
wood, with song, like a spirit, in the trees, and the 
golden sun-bursts glinting through the verdurous 
roof; and was conscious of a mysterious creeping 
of the blood, and tingling of the nerves, when 
standing alone in the starry midnight, as in God's 
own presence-chamber. But until I began to 
rhyme, I cared nothing for written poetry. The 
first verses I ever made were upon ' Hope,' when I 
was utterly hopeless ; and after I had begun, I 
never ceased for about four years, at the end of 
which time I rushed into print." 

There was, of course, crudeness both of thought 
and expression in the first verses of the poet, which 
were published in a provincial paper. But there 
was nerve, rhythm, and poetry; the burthen of the 
song was, " At even-time it shall be light." The 
leading idea of the poem was the power of knowl- 
edge, virtue, and temperance, to elevate the con- 
dition of the poor, — a noble idea truly. Shortly 
after he was encouraged to print a shilling volume 
of ''Poems and Chansons," in his native town of 
Tring, of which some 250 copies were sold. Of 
his later poems we shall afterwards speak. 

But a new power was now working upon his na- 



XX11 A BIOGRAPHIC SKETCH. 

ture, as might have been expected, — the power of 
opinion, as expressed in books, and in the discus- 
sions of his fellow-workers. 

" As an errand-boy," he says, " I had, of 
course, many hardships to undergo, and to bear 
with much tyranny; and that led me into reason- 
ing upon men and things, the causes of miser}', 
the anomalies of our societary state, politics, &c, 
and the circle of my being rapidly out-surged. 
New power came to me with all that I saw and 
thought and read. I studied political works, — 
such as Paine, Volney, Howitt, Louis Blanc, &c, 
which gave me another element to mould into my 
verse, though I am convinced that a poet must 
sacrifice much if he write party-political poetry. 
His politics must be above, the pinnacle of party 
zeal; the politics of eternal truth, right, and jus- 
tice. He must not waste a life on what to-morrow 
may prove to have been merely the question of a 
day. The French Revolution ' of 1848 had the 
greatest effect on me of any circumstance connected 
with my own life. It was scarred and blood-burnt 
into the very core of my being. This little volume 
of mine is the fruit thereof." 

But, meanwhile, he had been engaged in other 
literary work. Full of new thoughts, and bursting 
with aspirations for freedom, he started, in April, 
1849, a cheap journal, written entirely by work- 
ing-men, entitled, " The Spirit of Freedom : " it 
was full of fiery earnestness, and half of its weekly 
contents were supplied by Gerald Massey himself, 
Avho acted as editor. It cost him live situations dur- 
ing a period of eleven months, — twice because he 
was detected burning candle far into the night, and 
three times because of the tone of the opinions to 
which he gave utterance. The French Revolution 
of 1848 having, amongst its other issues, kindled 
the zeal of the working-men in this country in the 
cause of association, Gerald Massey eagerly joined 



A BIOGRArHIC SKETCH. X.xiii 

them, and he has been recently instrumental in 
giving some impetus to that praiseworthy move- 
ment, — the object of which is to permanently 
elevate the condition of the producing classes, by 
advancing them to the status of capitalists as well 
as laborers. 

A word or two as to Gerald Massey's recent 
poetry. Bear in mind that he is vet but a youth ; 
— at twenty-three a man can scarcely be said fairly 
to have entered his manhood ; and yet, if we except 
Robert Nichol, who died at twenty-four, we know 
of no English poet of his class, who has done any- 
thing to compare with him. Some of his most beau- 
tiful pieces originally appeared in the columns of 
the " Leader." They give you the idea of a prac- 
tised hand — one who has reached the lull prime 
of his poetic manhood. Take, for instance, his 
" Lyrics of Love," so full of beauty and tenderness. 
Nor are his " Songs of Progress " less full of poetic 
power and beauty. 

Gerald Massey is a teacher through the heart. 
He is familiar with the passions, and leans towards 
the tender and loving aspect of our nature. He 
takes after Burns more than after Wordsworth, 
Elliot rather than Thomson. He is but a young 
man, though he has crowded into his twenty-three 
years already the life of an old man. He has won 
his experience in the school of the poor, and nobly 
earned his title to speak to them as a man and a 
brother, dowered with vi the hate of hate, the 
scorn of scorn, the love of love." 

Extract from an Article written by Dr. Samuel 
Smiles, in "Eliza Cook's Journal" 1851. 



PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION 



BABE CHRISTABEL. 

I do not think a volume of verse should need a 
Preface. But as my Book has reached a Third 
Edition, and as almost as much has been said about 
myself as about my Book, perhaps I may be ex- 
cused, even by the Preface-hater, if I do take this 
opportunity of saying; a few words. I have been 
considerably censured for the political opinions 
which it contains, — as I expected to be. Before 
printing, I was advised not to include the political 
pieces, as, it was urged, they would prove an ob- 
stacle to the success of my Poetry, and close the 
drawing-room door against me. And if I had 
looked on the success of my Book in a poetical 
light alone, I should not have printed the greater 
portion of the political verses. But that was not 
the sole point of view. Those verses do not ad- 
equately express what I think and feel now, since 
they were written some five or six years ago : yet 
they express what I thought and felt then, and 
what thousands beside me have thought and felt, 
and what thousands still think and feel. They were 
the outcome of a peculiar and marked experience. 
I printed the " Memoir," so that they might be read 
in the light, or gloom, of that experience, and the 
Book contain its own excuse. They have not read 



XXVI PREFACE TO THE TIJIHD EDITION. 

me aright, who have not thus interpreted it. I 
have been blamed for the rebellious feelings to 
which the political pieces give utterance; but they 
were perfectly natural under the circumstances. 
Indeed, I look upon those same rebellious feelings 
as my very deliverance from a fatal slough. There 
are conditions in which many of the poor exist, 
where humanity must be either rebel or slave. 
For the slave, degradation and moral death are 
certain ; but tor the rebel there is always a chance 
of becoming conqueror; and the force to resist is 
far better than the faculty to succumb. 

It is not that I seek to sow dissension between 
class and class, or fling firebrands among the com- 
bustibles of society; for when I smite the hearts of 
my fellows, I would rather they should gush with 
the healing waters of love, than with the fearful 
fires of hatred. 1 yearn to raise them into loveable 
beings. 1 would kindle in the hearts of the masses 
a sense of the beauty and grandeur of the universe, 
call forth the lineaments of Divinity in their poor 
worn faces, give them glimpses of the grace and 
glory of Love and the marvellous significance of 
Life, and elevate the standard of Humanity for all. 
But strange wrongs are daily done in the land, 
bitter feelings are felt, and wild words will be 
spoken. It was not for myself alone that I wrote 
these things: it was always the condition of others, 
that so often made the mist rise up and cloud my 
vision. Nor was it for myself that I have uncur- 
tained some scenes of my life to the public gaze, 
but as an illustration of the lives of others, Avho 
suffer and toil on, "die, and make no sign;" and 
because one's own personal experience is of more 
value than that of others taken upon hearsay. 

So I keep my political verses as memorials of my 
past, as one might keep some worn-out garment 
because he had passed through the furnace in it, 
nothing doubting that in the future they will often 



PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. XXV11 

prove my passport to the hearts and homes of thou- 
sands of the poor, when the minstrel comes to their 
door with something better to bring them. They 
will know that I have suffered their sufferings, 
wept their tears, thought their thoughts, and felt 
their feelings; and they will trust me. 

I have been congratulated by some correspond- 
ents on the uses of suffering, and the riches I have 
wrung from Poverty: as though it were a blessed 
thing to be born in the condition in which I was, 
and surrounded with untoward circumstances as 
I have been. My experience tells me that Pov- 
erty is inimical to the development of Human- 
ity's noblest attributes. Poverty is a never-ceasing 
struggle for the means of living, and it makes one 
hard and selfish. To be sure, noble lives have 
been wrought out in the sternest poverty. Many 
such are being wrought out now, by the unknown 
heroes and martyrs of the Poor. I have known 
men and women in the xery worst circumstances, 
to whom heroism seemed a heritage, and to be 
noble a natural way of living. But they were so 
in spite of their poverty, and not because of it. 
AVhat they might have been if the world had done 
better by them, I cannot tell: but if their minds 
had been enriched by culture, the world had been 
the gainer. When Christ said, "Blessed are they 
who suffer," he did not speak of those who suffer 
from want and hunger, and who always see the 
Bastille looming up and blotting out the sky of 
their future. Such suffering brutalizes. True, — ■ 
natures ripen and strengthen in suffering; but it 
is that suffering which chastens and ennobles, — 
that which clears the spiritual sight. — -not the anx- 
iety lest work should fail, and the want of daily 
bread. The beauty of Suffering is not to be read 
in the face of Hunger. 

Above all, Poverty is a cold place to write Poe- 
try in. It is not attractive to poetical iniluences. 



VXV111 PRKFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. 

The Muses do not like entertainment which is not 
fit for man or beast. Nor do the best fruits of Poe- 
try ripen in the rain and shade and wind alone : 
they want sunshine, warmth, and the open sky. 
And should the heart of a poor man break into 
song, it is likely that his poverty may turn into 
hailstones that which might have fallen on the 
world in fructifying rain. A poor man, fighting his 
battle of life, has little time for the rapture of re- 
pose which Poetry demands. He cannot take 
Poetry like a Bride to his heart and home, and 
devote a life to her service. He can only keep 
some innermost chamber of his heart sacred for 
her, from whence he gets occasional glimpses of 
her wondrous beauty, when he can steal away from 
the outward strife, like some child who has found a 
treasure, and steals aside to look on it in secret 
and alone, lest rude and importunate companions 
should snatch it from the possessor's hands. Con- 
sidering all things, it may appear madness for a 
poor man to attempt Poetry in the face of the bar- 
riers that surround him. So many hearts have- 
been broken, so many lives have been wasted, so 
many lions are in the way of the Gate Beautiful, 
and so many wrecks lie by the path ! And so it is, 
— a diseased madness, or a divine one. If the ■ 
disease, then there is no help for a man : if the 
divine, then there is no hinderance for him. 

AVho would not pity the poor versifier at the 
outset of his career? But who would not also re- 
joice with him in the end, when the world crowns 
him a Poet with pseans of acclaim? And, in spite 
of all things, there will be Poetry in the midst of 
poverty. Even as there is scarcely a space in the 
world so barren but some plot of natural richness 
will be running all to flowers, — some type of love- 
liness will be starting up from Earth's inner Sea of 
Beauty, even in waste and wilderness, on rock and 
ruin, in Alpine snows and sandy solitudes, — so is 



PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. XXIX 

it with Poetry, the Flower of Humanity. It will 
continually be springing, in its own natural way, 
in the most bleak and barren by-ways of the 
world, as well as in the richest and most cultivated 
pastures. The winds of heaven, or the birds of 
God, will drop the seed, ami the flower will follow, 
even though sown amid the bushes and brambles 
of the obscurest hamlet, or in the. crevices of the 
city pavement. Not that the wilderness, or the 
rock, or the snows, are the fittest places to real 
flowers of the most exquisite fragrance and beauty; 
neither are Poverty and Penury, with their hell of 
torture, and daily wrestle with grim Death, the fit- 
test soil to grow and perfect the flower of Poetry. 
The greatest original Genius can only develop 
itself according to the circumstances which environ 
it. It needs food to nourish it, and time and op- 
portunity to unfold it. If it lack these, it must 
remain dwarfed and stunted, and perhaps wither 
and die. 

Besides, it is not while the fight is raging, and 
the struggle is sore, that the Poet can sing. He 
must first do battle and overcome, climb from the 
stir and strife, and be able to watch from his moun- 
tain where he dwells apart, The fullest and rarest 
streams of Poetry only flow through a mind at 
peace. The mirror of the Poet's soul must be 
calm and clear: else it will give forth distorted 
reflections and false imagings. 

Had I known, when I began to write verses, 
what I know now, I think I should have been in- 
timidated, and not have begun at all. So many 
and so glorious are the luminaries already up and 
shining, that one would pause before hoisting a 
rushlight. But I was ignorant of these things. 
And as I have begun, and conquered some prelim- 
inary difficulties, — as I have been sweated down 
to the proper jockey-weight at which I can ride 
Pegasus with little danger of spraining his wings, — 



XXX PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITIOX. 

and as a [)urpose has gradually and unconsciously 

grown upon me, — I dare say I shall go on, mak- 
ing the best of my limited materials, with the view 
of writing some songs that may become dear to 
the hearts of the people, cheering them in their 
sorrows, voicing their aspirations, lighting them on 
the way up which they are groping darkly after 
better things, and saluting their triumphs with 
hymns of victory ! 

I cannot conclude without thanking those Critics 
who have given me so generous a welcome. And 
I would also thank those who have not spared my 
faults, or dwelt tenderly on my failings. They, 
also, have done me good, and I am grateful for it 
Friendly praise is somewhat like a warm bath, — ■ 
apt to enervate, especially if we stay in too long; 
but friendly censure is like a cold bath, bracing 
and healthful, though we are always glad to get 
out of it. Some of the Critics have called me a 
"Poet;" but that word is much too lightly spoken, 
much too freely bandied about. I know what a 
Poet is too well to fancy that I am one yet. It 
is a high standard that I set up myself, and I do 
not ask it to be lowered to reach my stature ; nor 
would I have the Poet's awful crown diminished to 
mete my lesser brow. I may have that something 
within which kindles flame-like at the breath of 
Love, or mounts into song in the presence of 
Beauty ; but, alas ! mini', is a "jarring lyre." The 
dearth of Poetry should be great in a country 
where we hail as Poets such as have been crowned 
of late. 

For myself, I have only entered the lists, and 
inscribed my name : the race has yet to be run. 
Whether I shall run it, and win the Poet's crown, 
or not, time alone will prove, and not the predic- 
tion of friend or foe. The crowns of Poetry are not 
in the keeping of Critics. At most they can only 
give us paper credit. There have been many who 



PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. XXXI 

have given some sign of promise, — just set a rain- 
bow of hope in the dark cloud of their life, — and 
never fulfilled their promise ; and the world has 
wondered why. But it might not have been matter 
of wonder if the world could have read what was 
written behind the cloud. Others, again, are song- 
ful in youth, like the nightingales in spring, who 
soon cease to sing, because they have to build nests, 
rear their young, and provide for them; and so the 
songs grow silent, — the heart is full of cares, and 
the dreamer has no time to dream. I hope that my 
future holds some happier fate. I think there is a 
work for me to do, and I trust to accomplish it. 

GERALD MASSEY. 
April, 1854. 



THE 



BALLAD OF BABE CIIRISTABEL. 



THE 

BALLAD OF BABE CHRISTABEL. 

When Danae-Earth bares all her charms, 
And gives the God her perfect flower, 
Who, in the sunshine's golden shower, 

Leaps warm into her amorous arms ! 

And all the kindled greenery glows, 

While from her emeraldine sea 

Spring rises up rejoicingly, 
And life hath richest overflows : 

"When young Maids feel Love stir i' the blood, 
And wanton with the kissing leaves 
And branches, and the quick sap heaves, 

And dances to a ripen'd flood ; 

Till, blown to its hidden heart with sighs, 
Love's red rose burns in cheeks so dear, 
And, as sea-jewels upward peer, 

Love-thoughts melt through their swimming eyes : 

When Beauty walks in bravest dress, 

And, fed with April's mellow showers, 

The earth laughs out with sweet May -flowers, 

That flush for very happiness : 

And Spider-Puck his wonder weaves 

O' nights, and nooks of greening gloom 
Are rich with violets that bloom 

In the cool dark of dewv leaves : 



4 THE BALLAD OF BABE CIIRISTABEL. 

When Rose-buds drink the fiery wine 

Of Dawn, with crimson stains i' the mouth, 
All thirstily as yearning Youth 

From Love's hand drinks the draught divine ; 

And honey'd plots are drowsed with Bees : 
And Larks rain music by the shower, 
While singing, singing hour by hour, 

Song like a Spirit sits i' the Trees 1 

When fainting hearts forget their fears, 
And in the poorest Life's salt cup 
Some rare wine runs, and Hope builds up 

Her rainbow over Memory's tears ! 

It fell upon a merry May morn, 

I' the perfect prime of that sweet time 
When daisies Avhiten, woodbines climb,— 

The dear Babe Christabel was born. 



All night the Stai*s bright watches kept, 
Like Gods that look a golden calm ; 
The Silence dropt its precious balm, 

And the tired world serenely slept. 

The birds were darkling in the nest, 
Or bosom'd in voluptuous trees : 
On beds of flowers the happy breeze 

Had kist its fill and sank to rest. 

All night beneath the Cottage eaves, 
A lonely light, with tremulous Arc, 
Surged back a space the sea of dark, 

And glanced among the glimmering leaves. 



THE BALLAD OF BABE CHRISTABEL. 

Without ! the quiet heavens above 

The nest of life, did lean and brood ! 
,. c Within ! the Mother's tears of blood 
Wet the Gethsemane of her love ! 

And when the Morn with frolic zest, 

Lookt through the curtains of the night, 
There was a dearer dawn of light, 

A tenderer life the Mother's prest ! 

Ah ! bliss to make the brain reel wild ! 
The Star new-kindled in the dark — 
Life that had flutter'd like a Lark — 

Lay in her bosom a sweet Child ! 

How she had felt it drawing down 

Her nesting heart more close and close, - 
Her rose-bud ripening to a Rose, 

That she should one day see full-blown ! 

How she had throbb'd with hopes and fears, 
And strain'd her inner eyes till dim, 
To see the coming glory swim 

Through the rich mist of happy tears ; 

For it, her woman's heart drank up, 

And smiled at, Sorrow's darkest dole : 
And now Delight's most dainty soul 

Was crusht for her in one rich cup ! 

And then delicious languors crept, 

Like nectar, on her pain's hot drouth, 
And feeling fingers — kissing mouth — 

Being faint with joy, the Mother slept. 



6 THE BALLAD OF BABE CHRISTABEL. 

Babe Christabel was royally born ! 

For when the earth was flusht with flowers, 
And drencht with beauty in sun-showers, 

She came through golden gates of Morn. 

No chamber arras-pictured round, 

Where sunbeams make a gorgeous gloom, 
And touch its glories into bloom, 

And footsteps fall withouten sound, 

Was her Birth-place that merry May-morn ; 
No gifts were heapt, no bells were rung, 
No healths were drunk, no songs were sung 

When dear Babe Christabel was born : 

But Nature on the darling smiled, 

And with her beauty's blessing crown'd : 
Love brooded o'er the hallowed ground, 

And there were Angels with the Child ! 

And May her kisses of love did blow 
On amorous airs, that came to her 
With gifts of Frankincense and Myrrh, 

As came the Magi long ago 

To worship Bethlehem's baby-King : 

Spring-Birds made welcoming merriment, 
And all the Flowers for welcome sent 

The secret sweetness of the Spring. 

In glancing light and shimmering shade, 

With cheeks that toucht and ripelier burn'd, 
May-Roses in at the lattice yearn'd 

A-tiptoe, and Good Morrow bade. 

No purple and fine linen might 

Be hoarded up for her sweet sake : 
But Mother's love shall clothe and make 

The little wearer bravely dight ! 



THE BALLAD OF BABE CHRISTABEL. 

And worlds of worship are their eyes, 

Their loyal hearts are worlds of love, 
Who fondly clasp the stranger Dove, 

And read its news from Paradise. 

Their looks praise God — souls sing for glee : 
They think if this old world had toil'd 
Through ages to bring forth their child, 

It hath a glorious destiny. 



O happy Husband ! happy Wife ! 

The rarest blessing Heaven drops down, 
The sweetest blossom in Spring's crown, 

Starts in the furrows of your life ! 

God ! what a towering height ye win, 
Who cry, " Lo my beloved Child ! " 
And, life on life sublimely piled, 

Ye touch the heavens and peer within ! 

Look how a star of glory swims 

Down aching silences of space, 
Flushing the Darkness till its face 

With beating heart of light o'erbrims ! 

So brightening came Babe Christabel, 

To touch the earth with fresh romance, 
And light a Mother's countenance 

With looking on her miracle. 

With hands so flower-like soft, and fair, 

She caught at life, with words as sweet 
As first spring violets, and feet 

As faery-light as feet of air. 



8 THE BALLAD OF BABE CHRISTABEL. 

The Father, down in Toil's mirk mine, 
Turns to his wealthy world above, 
Its radiance, and its home of love ; 

And lights his life like sun-struck wine. 

The Mother moves with queenlier tread : 
Proud swell the globes of ripe delight 
Above her heart, so warm and white 

A pillow for the baby-head ! 

Their natures deepen, well-like, clear, 
Till God's eternal stars are seen, 
For ever shining and serene, 

By eyes anointed Beauty's seer. 

A sense of glory all things took, — ■ 

The red Rose-Heart of Dawn would blow, 
And Sundown's sumptuous pictures show 

Babe-Cherubs wearing their Babe's look ! 

And round their peerless one they clung, 
Like bees about a flower's wine-cup ; 
New thoughts and feelings blossom'd up, 

And hearts for very fulness sung 

Of what their budding Babe should grow, 
When the Maid crimson'd into Wife, 
And crown'd the summit of some life, 

Like Phosphor, with morn on its brow ! 

And they should bless her for a Bride, 

Who, like a splendid saint alit 

In some heart's seventh heaven, should sit, 
As now in theirs, all glorified ! 

But O ! 'twas all too white a brow 

To flush with Passion that doth fire 

With Hymen's torch its own death-pyre, — 

So pure her heart was beating now ! 



THE BALLAD OF BABE CHRISTABEL. 

And thus they built their Castles brave 
. In faery lands of gorgeous cloud ; 
They never saw a little white shroud, 
Nor guess'd how flowers may mask the grave. 



She grew, a sweet and sinless Child, 

In shine and shower, — calm and strife ; 
A Rainbow on our dark of Life, 

From Love's own radiant heaven down-smiled ! 

In lonely loveliness she grew, — 

A shape all music, light, and love, 
With startling looks, so eloquent of 

The spirit burning into view. 

At Childhood she could seldom play 

With merry heart, whose flashes rise 
Like splendour-winged butterflies 

From honey'd hearts of flowers in May : 

The fields in blossom flamed and flusht, 
The Roses into crimson yearn'd, 
With cloudy fire the wall-flowers burn'd, 

And blood-red Sunsets bloom'd and blusht, — 

And still her cheek was pale as pearl, — 
It took no tint of Summer's wealth 
Of colour, warmth, and wine of Health : — 

Death's hand so whitely pressed the Girl ! 

No blush grew ripe to sun or kiss 

Where violet-veins ran purple light, 
So tenderly thro' Parian white, 

Touching you into tenderness. 



10 THE BALLAD OF BABE CHRISTABEL. 

A spirit-look was in her face, 

That shadow'd a miraculous range 
Of meanings, ever rich and strange, 

Or lighten'd glory in the place. 

Such mystic lore was in her eyes, 

And light of other worlds than ours, 
She lookt as she had gathered flowers, 

With little maids of Paradise. 

Her brow — fit home for daintiest dreams — 
With such a dawn of light was crown'd, 
And reeling ringlets shower'd round. 

Like sunny sheaves of golden beams : 

And she would talk so weirdly- wild, 
And grow upon your wonderings, 
As tho' her stature rose on wings ! 

And you forgot she was a Child. 

Ah ! she was one of those who come 
With pledged promise not to stay 
Long, ere the Angels let them stray 

To nestle down in earthly home: 

And, thro' the windows of her eyes, 
We often saw her saintly soul, 
Serene, and sad, and beautiful, 

Go sorrowing for lost Paradise 

Our Lamb in mystic meadows play'd : 
In some celestial sleep she walkt 
Her dream of life, and low we talkt, 

As of her waking heart-afraid. 

In Earth she took no lusty root, 

Her beauty of promise to disclose, 
And round into the Woman-Rose, 

And climb into Life's crowning fruit. 



THE BALLAD OF BABE CHRISTABEL. 1] 

She came — like music in the night 

Floating as heaven in the brain, 

A moment oped, and shut again, 
And all is dark where all was light. 

She came, — as comes the light of smiles 
O'er earth, and every budding thing 
Makes quick with beauty — alive with Spring; 

Then goeth to Hesperian Isles. 



Midnight was tranced solemnly 

Thinking of dawn : Her Star-thoughts burn'dl 
The Trees like burden'd Prophets yearn'd, 

Rapt in a wind of prophecy : 

When, like the Night, the shadow of Woe 
On all things laid its hand death-dark, 
Our last hope went out as a spark, 

And a cry smote heaven like a blow ! 

We sat and watcht by Life's dark stream, 
Our love-lamp blown about the night, 
With hearts that lived as lived its light, 

And died as died its precious gleam. 

In Death's face hers flasht up and smiled, 

As smile the young flowers in their prime, 
I' the face of their gray murderer Time, 

And Death for true love kist our child. 

She thought our good-night kiss was given, 

And like a lily her life did close ; 

Angels uneurtain'd that repose, 
And the next waking dawn'd in heaven. 



12 THE BALLAD OF BABE CHRISTABEL. 



With her white hands claspt she sleepeth ; heart is 
husht, and lips are cold ; 
Death shrouds up her heaven of beauty, and a 
weary way I go, 
Like the sheep without a Shepherd on the wintry 
norland wold, 
With the face of Day shut out by blinding 
snow. 

O'er its widow'd nest my heart sits moaning for its 
youngling fled 
From this world of wail and weeping, gone to 
join her starry peers ; 
And my light of life 's o'ershadow'd where the dear 
one lieth dead, 
And I'm crying in the dark with many fears. 

All last night-tide she seemed near me, like a lost 
beloved Bird, 
Beating at the lattice louder than the sobbing 
wind and rain ; 
And I call'd across the night with tender name and 
fondling word ; 
And I yearn'd out thro' the darkness, all in 
vain. 

Heart will plead, " Eyes cannot see her : they are 
blind with tears of pain ; " 
And it climbeth up and straineth for dear life to 
look and hark 
While I call her once again : but there cometh no 
refrain, 
And it droppeth down, and dieth in the dark. 



THE BALLAD OF BABE CHRISTABEL. 18 

In this dim world of clouding cares, 
We rarely know, till wildered eyes 
See white wings lessening up the skies, 
I The Angels with us unawares. 

And thou hast stolen a jewel. Death ! 

Shall light thy dark up like a Star, 

A Beacon kindling from afar 
Our light of love, and fainting faith. 

Thro' tears it streams perpetually, 

And glitters thro' the thickest glooms, 
Till the eternal morning comes 

To light us o'er the Jasper Sea. 

With our best branch in tenderest leaf, 

We 've strewn the way our Lord doth come ; 
And, ready for the harvest-home, 

His Reapers bind our ripest sheaf. 

Our beautiful Bird of light hath fled : 
Awhile she sat with folded wings — 
Sang round us a few hoverings — 

Then straightway into glory sped. 

With sense of Motherhood new-found 

The white-winged Angels nurture her, 
High on the heavenly hills of myrrh, 

And all Love's purple glory round. 

Thro' Childhood's morning-land, serene 

She walkt betwixt us twain, like Love ; 
While, in a robe of light above, 

Her better Angel walkt unseen, 

Till Life's highway broke bleak and wild ; 
Then, lest her starry garments trail 
In mire, heart bleed, and courage fail, 

The Angel's arms caught up the child. 



14 THE BALLAD OF BABE CHRISTABEL. 

Her wave of life hath backward roll'd 
To the great ocean ; on whose shore 
We wander up and down, to store 

Some treasures of the times of old : 

And aye we seek and hunger on 

For precious pearls and relics rare, 
Strewn on the sands for us to wear 

At heart, for love of her that 's gone. 

O weep no more ! there yet is balm 
In Gilead ! Love doth ever shed 
Rich healing where it nestles,- — spread 

O'er desert pillows, some green Palm ! 

Strange glory streams thro' Life's wild rents, 
And thro' the open door of Death 
We see the heaven that beckoneth 

To the beloved going hence. 

God's ichor fills the hearts that bleed ; 

The best fruit loads the broken bough ; 

And in the wounds our sufferings plough, 
Immortal Love sows sovereign seed 



SONGS FOR SINGING. 



A NATIONAL ANTHEM. 



A NATIONAL ANTHEM. 

God bless our native Land, 
Glorious, and grave, and grand, 

God bless our Land ! 
God bless her noble face, 
God bless her peerless race, 
Great heart, and daring hand, 

God bless our Land. 

God love our Saxon Land, 
Make her for ever grand, 

God love our Land ! 
Robe her with righteousness, 
Crown her with gifts of grace, 
Throne her at Thy right hand, 

God love our Land. 

If secret foes should band 
To strike our dear old Land, 

God aid our Land ! 
Be Thou her strength and stay, 
God, in the battle day ! 
Strew them ashore like sand, 

God aid our Land. 

Few are we, Sword in hand, 
All Sword in soul we stand, , 

Around our Land ! 
And when her blood shall flow, 
Green make her glory grow, 
Lead her in triumph grand, 

Our leal old Land. 



18 OLD ENGLAND. 

Here pray we hand in hand, 
Tears in our eyelids stand, 

God save our Land ! 
Thy Watch-tower on the Sea, 
"Venger of Right is she, 
Long let old Fear-not stand, 

God save our" Land. 



OLD ENGLAND. 

There she sits in her Island-home, 

Peerless among her Peers ! 
And Liberty oft to her arms doth come, 

To ease its poor heart of tears. 
Old England still throbs with the muffled fire 

Of a Past she can never forget : 
And again shall she banner the World up higher; 

For there 's life in the Old Land yet. 

They would mock at her now, who of old lookt 
forth 

In their fear, as they heard her afar ; 
But loud will your wail be, O Kings of the Earth ! 

When the Old Land goes down to the war. 
The Avalanche trembles, half-launcht, and half- 
riven, 

Her voice will in motion set : 
O ring out the tidings, ye Winds of heaven ! 

There 's life in the Old Land yet. 

The old nursing Mother 's not hoary yet, 
There is sap in her Saxon tree ; — 

Lo ! she lifteth a bosom of glory yet, 

Thro' her mists, to the Sun and the Sea. 

Fair as the Queen of Love, fresh from the foam, 
Or a star in a dark cloud set ; 



LONG, LONG AGO. 19 

Ye may blazon her shame, — ye may leap at her 
name, — 
But there 's life in the Old Land yet. 

Let the storm burst, it will find the Old Land 

Ready-ripe for a rough, red fray ! 
She will fight as she fought when she took her stana 

For the Right in the olden day. 
Rouse the old royal soul, Europe's best hope 

Is her sword-edge by Victory set ! 
She shall dash Freedom's foes down Death's bloody 
slope ; 

For there 's life in the Old Land yet. 



LONG, LONG AGO. 

Old friend of mine, you were dear to my heart, 
Long, long ago, long airo. 

Little did we think of a time we should part, 
Long, long ago, long ago. 

Hand claspt in hand thro' the world we would go. 

Down our old untrodden path the wild weeds grow! 

Great was the love 'twixt us ; bitter was the smart : 
Old friend of mine long ago. 

Patient watch I kept for you many, many a day, 
Long, long ago, long ago ; 

Waited and wept for you far, far away, 
Long, long ago, long ago. 

Merry came each May-tide, green leaves would 
start : 

Never came my old friend back to my heart. 

Lonely I went on my weary, weary way, 
Old friend of mine long ago. 

Oft as I muse at the shadowy nightfall 
Over the dear Long Ago, 



I 



20 THAT MERRY, MERRY MAY. 

Borne on tears arises the dark, dark pall, 
Fallen on my heart long ago. 

Love is not dead, tho' we wander apart ; 

How I could clasp you, old friend, to my heart ! 

Barriers lie between us, but God knoweth all, 
Old friend of mine long ago. 



THAT MERRY, MERRY MAY. 

Ah ! 't is like a tale of olden 

Time, long, long ago ; 
When the world was in its golden 

Prime, and love was lord below ! 
Every vein of Earth was dancing 

With the Spring's new wine ! 
'T was the pleasant time of flowers, 

When I met you, love of mine ! 
Ah ! some spirit sure was straying 

Out of heaven that day, 
When I met you, Sweet! a-Maying 

In that merry, merry May. 

Little heart ! it shyly open'd 

Its red leaves' love-lore, 
Like a rose that must be ripen'd 

To the dainty, dainty core. 
But its beauties daily brighten, 

And it blooms so dear, — 
Tho' a many Winters whiten, 

I go Maying all the year. 
And my proud heart will be praying 

Blessings on the day, 
When I met you, Sweet ! a-Maying, 

In that merry, merry May. 



TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW. 21 



TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW. 

High hopes that burn'd like Stars sublime, 
Go down i' the Heavens of Freedom ; 

And true hearts perish in the time 
We bitterliest need 'em ! 

But never sit we down and say- 
There 's nothing left but sorrow : 

We walk the Wilderness To-day, 
The Promised Land To-morrow. 

Our birds of song are silent now, 

There are no Mowers blooming ! 
Yet life is in the frozen bough, 

And Freedom's Spring is coming! 
And Freedom's tide comes up alway, 

Tho' we may strand in sorrow : 
And our good Bark, a-ground To-day, 

Shall float again To-morrow. 

Thro' all the long, dark night of years 

The People's cry ascendeth, 
And Earth is wet with blood and tears : 

But our meek sufferance endeth ! 
The Few shall not for ever sway, 

The Many moil in sorrow : 
The Powers of Hell are strong To-day, 

But Christ shall rise To-morrow. 

Tho' hearts brood o'er the Past, our eyes 

With smiling Futures glisten! 
For, lo ! our day bursts up the skies : 

Lean out your souls and listen ! 
The world rolls Freedom's radiant way, 

And ripens with her sorrow : 
Keep heart ! who bear the Cross To-day, 

Shall wear the Crown To-morrow. 



Till-: KINGLIEST KINGS. 

O Youth ! flame-earnest, still aspire, 

With energies immortal ! 
To many a heaven of Desire, 

Our yearning opes a portal ! 
And tho' Age wearies by the way, 

And hearts break in the furrow, 
We '11 sow the golden grain To-day, — ■ 

The Harvest comes To-morrow. 

Build up heroic lives, and all 

Be like a sheathen sabre, 
Ready to flash out at God's call, 

O Chivalry of Labour ! 
Triumph and Toil are twins : and aye 

Joy suns the cloud of Sorrow ; 
And 't is the martyrdom To-day, 

Brings victory To-morrow. 



THE KINGLIEST KINGS. 

Ho ! ye who in a noble work 

Win scorn, as flames draw air, 
And in the way where Lions lurk, 
God's image bravely bear ; 
Tho' trouble-tried, and torture-torn, 
The kingliest Kings are crown'd with thorn. 

Life's glory, like the bow in heaven, 

Still springeth from the cloud ; 
Soul ne'er out-soar'd the starry Seven, 
But Pain's fire-chariot rode. 
They 've battled best who 've boldliest borne, 
The kingliest Kings are crown'd with thorn. 

The Martyr's fire-crown on the brow 
Doth into glory burn ; 



OUR NATIVE LAND. 23 

And tears that from Love's torn heart flow, 
To pearls of spirit turn. 
Oar dearest hopes in pangs are born, 
The kingliest Kings are crown'd with thorn. 

As beauty in Death's cerement shrouds, 

And Stars bejewel Night, 
God-splendours live in dim heart-clouds, 
And suffering worketh might. 
The mirkest hour is mother o' Morn, 
The kingliest Kings are crown'd with thorn. 



OUR NATIVE LAND. 

This is our Mother Country ! 

The dearest land ; 

The rarest land. 
Round which the sea keeps sentry, 

Or Ships are manned ; 

Or Ships are manned. 
Nothing but Heaven above her ! 

And here 's my hand ; 

And here 's my hand. 
We are Brothers all who love her, 

Our Native Land ; 

Dear Native Land. 

Afar and near they hail her, 

With greetings warm ; 

With greetings warm. 
The famous old brave sailer, 

That rode the stomi ; 

Ay, many a storm. 
Who would not die to save her, 

Shall bear the brand ; 

The Coward's brand. 



24 OUR NATIVE LAND. 

Our love must never waver 
For Native Land ; 
Dear Native Land. 

No matter where our place is, 

We may go forth ; 

We may go forth. 
And turn dead frozen faces 

Home from the North ; 

Home from the North. 
Or sink 'neath orient Heaven, 

In burning sand ; 

Waste, desert sand. 
Our lives shall still be given 

For Native Land ; 

Dear Native Land. 

And long may such life nourish 

The old land on ; 

This dear land on. 
And long, long may she flourish, 

When we are gone ; 

All dead and gone. 
Long may the Sea caress her, 

As great and grand ; 

As great and grand. 
Tho'u God in Heaven bless her ! 

Our Native Land ; 

Dear Native Land. 

Ofttimes the foe beheld us, 

All torn apart ; 

All torn apart. 
Altho' a blow would weld us 

All one at heart ; 

All one at heart. 
Now trust we in each other, 

A little band ; 

A happy hands 



A LOVER'S FANCY. 



25 



The Children of one Mother ! 
Our Native Land ; 
Dear Native Land. 

Some new heroic story 

The world shall learn ; 

The world shall learn. 
If we who keep her glory 

Are true and stern ; 

All true and stern. 
Come wild and warring weather. 

We ready stand ; 

All ready stand. 
To fight or fall together 

For Native Land ; 

Dear Native Land. 



A LOVER'S FANCY. 

Sweet Heaven ! I do love a maiden, 
Radiant, rare, and beauty-laden : 
When she 's near me, heaven is round me, 
Her dear presence doth so bound me ! 
I could wring my heart of gladness, 
Might it free her lot of sadness ! 
Give the world, and all that 's in it, 
Just to press her hand a minute ! 
Yet she weeteth not I love her ; 

Never dare I tell the sweet 
Tale, but to the stars above her, 

And the flowers that kiss her feet. 






! to live and linger near her, 
And in tearful moments cheer her ! 

1 could be a Bird to lighten 

Her dear heart, — her sweet eves brighten 



26 THE CHIVALRY OF LABOUR. 

Or in fragrance, like a blossom, 
Give my life up on her bosom ! 
For my love 's withouten measure, 
All its pangs are sweetest pleasure : 
Yet she weeteth not I love her ; 

Never dare I tell the sweet 
Tale, but to the stars above her, 

And the flowers that kiss her feet. 



THE CHIVALRY OF LABOUR. 

Uprouse ye now, brave brother-band, 
With honest heart, and working hand : 
We are but few, toil-tried, and true, 
Yet hearts beat high to dare and do : 
And who would not a champion be 
In Labour's lordlier Chivalry ? 

We fight ! but bear no bloody brand, 
We fight to free our Fatherland : 
We fight that smiles of love may glow 
On lips where curses quiver now ! 
Hurrah ! hurrah ! true Knights are we 
In Labour's lordlier Chivalry. 

O ! there be hearts that ache to see 

The day-dawn of our victory : 

Eyes full of heart-break with us plead, 

And Watchers weep, and Martyrs bleed : 

O ! who would not a Champion be 

In Labour's lordlier Chivalry ? 

Work, Brothers mine ; work, hand and brain 
We "11 win the Golden Age again : 



O LAY THY HAND IN MINE, DEAR 1 27 

And Love's Millennial morn shall rise 
In happy hearts, and blessed eyes. 
Hurrah ! hurrah ! true Knights are we 
In Labour's lordlier Chivalry. 



O LAY THY HAND IN MINE, DEAR! 

O lay thy hand in mine, dear ! 

We're growing old, we're growing old ; 
But Time hath brought no sign, dear, 

That hearts grow cold, that hearts grow cold. 
'T is long, long since our new love 

Made life divine, made life divine ; 
But age enricheth true love, 

Like noble wine, like noble wine. 

And lay thy cheek to mine, dear, 

And take thy rest, and take thy rest ; 

Mine arms around thee twine, dear, 
And make thy nest, and make thy nest. 

A many cares are pressing 

On this dear head, on this dear head; 

But Sorrow's hands in blessing- 
Are surely laid, are surely laid. 

O lean thy life on mine, dear ! 

'T will shelter thee, 't will shelter thee. 
Thou Avert a winsome vine, dear, 

On my young tree, on my young tree : 
And so, till boughs are leafless, 

And Song-birds flown, and Song-birds flown, 
We '11 twine, then lay us, griefless, 

Together down, together down. 



SONG. — LOVES FAIRY-RING. 



SONG. 

Methought to bear her branches crowned 

With fruit, my virgin vine : 
Another fills her arms ; around 

Another life they twine ! 
So I lost the day, 

And all the night I wake, — 
Bird-like singing sad soitow away, 

Until my heart shall break. 

While others gleaned Life's field for gold, 

With Flowers I made a crown : 
Till, looking up alone, behold, 

The deepening night came down ! 
So I lost the day, 

And all the night I wake, — 
Bird-like singing sad sorrow away, 

Until my heart shall break. 

Poor me ! I claspt a reed, and missed 

My sweetest Syrinx fled ! 
Poor me ! my tendei*est music 's kist 

From lips of dear love dead. 
I have lost the day, 

And all the night I wake, — 
Bird-like singing sad sorrow away, 

Until my heart shall break. 



LOVE'S FAIRY RING. 

While Titans war with social Jove, 
My own sweet Wife and I, 

We make Elysium in our love, 
And let the world go by ! 






love's fairy-ring. 29 

O never hearts beat half so light 
With crowned Queen or King ! 

O never world was half so bright 
As is our fairy-ring, 

Dear love ! 
Our hallowed fairy-ring. 

Our world of empire is not large, 

But priceless wealth it holds ; 
A little heaven links marge to marge, 

But what rich realms it folds ! 
And clasping all from outer strife 

Sits Love with folden wing, 
A-brood o'er dearer life-in-life, 

Within our fairy-ring, 

Dear love ! 

Our hallowed fairy-ring. 

Thou leanest thy true heart on mine, 

And bravely bearest up ! 
Aye mingling Love's most precious wine 

In Lite's most bitter cup ! 
And evermore the circling hours 

New gifts of glory bring ; 
We live and love like happy flowers, 

All in our fairy-ring, 

Dear love ! 

Our hallowed fairy-ring. 

We've known a many sorrows, Sweet ! 

We 've wept a many tears, 
And often trod with trembling feet 

Our pilgrimage of years. 
But when our sky grew dark and wild, 

All closelier did we cling : 
Clouds broke to beanty as you smiled, 

Peace crown'd our fairy-ring, 
Dear love ! 

Our hallowed fairy-ring. 



30 there's no dearth of kindness. 

Away, you Lords of Murderdoin ; 

Away, O Hate, and Strife ! 
Hence, revellers, reeling drunken from 

Your feast of human life ! 
Heaven shield our little Goshen round, 

From ills that with them spring, 
And never be their footprints found 

Within our fairy-ring, 

Dear love ! 

Our hallowed fairy-ring. 

But, come ye who the Truth dare own, 

Or work in Love's dear name ; 
Come all who wear the Martyr's crown — 

The Mystic's robe of flame ! 
Sweet souls a Christless world doth doom 

Like Birds made blind to sing ! 
For such we '11 aye make welcome room 

Within our fairy-ring, 

Dear love ! 
Our hallowed fairy-ring. 



THERE'S NO DEARTH OF KINDNESS. 

There 's no dearth of kindness 

In this world of ours ; 
Only in our blindness 

We gather thorns for flowers ! 
Outward, we are spurning — 

Trampling one another ! 
While we are inly yearning 

At the name of " Brother ! " 

There 's no dearth of kindness 
Or love among mankind, 



there's no dearth of kindness. 31 

But in darkling loneness 

Hooded hearts grow blind ! 
Full of kindness tingling, 

Soul is shut from soul, 
When they might be mingling 

In one kindred whole ! 

There 's no dearth of kindness, 

Tho' it be unspoken, 
From the heart it sendeth 

Smiles of heaven in token 
[ That there be none so lowly, 

But have some angel- touch : 
Yet, nursing loves unholy, 

We live for self too much ! 

As the wild-rose bloweth, 

As runs the happy river, 
Kindness freely floweth 

In the heart for ever. 
But if men will hanker 

Ever for golden dust, 
Best of hearts will canker, 

Brightest spirits rust. 

There 's no dearth of kindness 

In this world of ours ; 
Only in our blindness 

We gather thorns for flower* ! 
O cherish God's best giving, 

Falling from above ! 
Life were not worth living, 

Were it not for Love. 



32 MY LOVE. — THE GOLDEN WEDDIXG-RIXG. 



MY LOVE. 

My Love is true and tender, 

Her eyes are rich with rest ; 
Her hair of dappled splendour, 

The colour I love best ; 
So sweet, so gay, so odorous warm, 

She nestles here, heart-high, 
A bounteous aspect, beauteous form, 

But — just a wee bit sly. 

My Love is no light Dreamer, 

A-floating with the foam ; 
But a brave life-sea swimmer, 

With footing found in Home. 
My winsome Wife, she 's bright without, 

And beautiful within ; 
But — I would not say quite without 

The least wee touch of sin. 

My Love is not an Angel 

In one or two small things ; 
But just a wifely woman 

With other wants than wings. 
You have some little leaven 

Of earth, you darling dear ! 
If you were fit for Heaven, 

You mio-ht not nestle here. 



THE GOLDEN WEDDING-RING. 

With a white hand like a lady, 
And a heart as merry as Spring, 



THE GOLDEN WEDDING-RING. 33 

I am ripe and I am ready 
For a golden wedding-ring ; 
Heigho, for a wedding-ring. 

This old world is scarce worth seeing, 
Till Love wave his purple wing, 

And we gauge the bliss of being, 
Thro' a golden wedding-ring ; 
Heigho, for a wedding-ring. 

Would you draw far Eden nearer, 
And to earth the Angels bring ; 

You must seek the magic mirror 
Of a golden wedding-ring ; 
Heigho, for a wedding-ring. 

As the earth with sea is bounded, 
And the winter-world with spring, 

So a Maiden's life is rounded 
With a golden wedding-ring; 
Heigho, for a wedding-ring. 

I have known full many a Maiden, 

Like a white rose withering, 
Into fresh ripe beauty redden 

Thro' a golden wedding-ring; 
. Heigho, for a wedding-ring. 

As the crescent Moon rings golden, 

Her full glory perfecting, 
Womanly beauty is unfolden 

In a golden wedding-ring ; 

Heigho, for a wedding-ring. 

Fainting spirits oft grow fearless, 
Sighing hearts will soar and sing, 

Tearful eyes will laugh out tearless, 
Thro' a golden wedding-ring ; 
Heigho, for a wedding-ring. 
3 



34 NO JEWELLED BEAUTY IS MY LOVE. 

There 's no jewel so worth wearing, 
That a Lover's hands may bring, — 

There 's no treasure worth comparing 
With a golden wedding-ring ; 
Heigho, for a wedding-ring. 

Ah ! when hearts are wildly beating, 
And when arms all glowing cling, 

Think, Love's circle wants completing 
With a golden wedding-ring ; 
Heigho, for a wedding-ring. 



NO JEWELLED BEAUTY IS MY LOVE. 

No jewel I'd Beauty is my Love, 

Yet in her earnest face 
There 's such a world of tenderness, 

She needs no other grace. 
Her smiles, and voice, around my life 

In light and music twine, 
And dear, O very dear to me, 

Is this sweet Love of mine. 

O joy ! to know there *s one fond heart 

Beats ever true to me : 
It sets mine leaping like a lyre, 

In sweetest melody : 
My soul up-springs, a Deity ! 

To hear her voice divine; 
And dear, O very dear to me, 

Is this sweet Love of mine. 

If ever I have sigh'd for wealth, 

'T was all for her, I trow ; 
And if I win Fame's victor-wreath, 

I '11 twine it on her brow. 



NOW AND THEN. — SONG. 35 

There may be forms more beautiful, 

And souls of sunnier shine, 
But none, O none, so dear to me, 

As this sweet Love of mine. 



NOW AND THEN. 

O Love will make the leal heart ache 

That never ached before ; 
And meek or merry eyes 't will make 

With solemn tears run o'er. 
In tears we parted tenderly, 

My Love and I langsyne ; 
And evermore she vowed to be 

Mine own, aye mine, all mine ! 



But the worm is at the root ; 
And many a darling flower of Spring 

Will never come to fruit. 
We meet now in the streets of life ; 

All gone, the old sweet charms ; 
At my side leans a loving Wife ; 

She — passes Babe-in-arms. 



SONG. 

Like leaves from Autumn's bough, Old Friend, 

Our ripest hopes depart ; 
There 's little left us now, Old Friend, 

To cheer the Patriot's heart. 
The Altars where we knelt, Old Friend, 

Grow desolate and cold, 



36 BRIDAL SONG. 

And faint is the faith we felt, Old Friend, 
I' the valiant days of old. 

In bloody shrouds they sleep, Old Friend, 

Who could not live as slaves : 
The living only weep, Old Friend, 

Above their Martyrs' graves ! 
Freedom hath many a wound, Old Friend, 

And, ring'd by hounds of hell, 
She wraps her purple round, Old Friend, 

To fall as Caesar fell. 

The men of blood prevail, Old Friend, 

And, stricken in the night, 
The people's weeping wail, Old Friend, 

Goes praying for the light. 
And yet their day shall come, Old Friend, 

Though we may never hear 
The shouts of Harvest-home, Old Friend, 

Nor see the golden year. 



BRIDAL SONG. 

Gaily the Sun woos the Spring for his Bride, 

With kisses all warm and golden ; 
Till the life at her heart she no longer may hide, 

And the wealth of her love is unfolden. 

The wrinkled old Sea sidles up the sands, 

And lavishes kisses in showers 
On the Earth, till the Gray-beard's young darling 
stands 

All dress'd in her bridal flowers ! 

With kisses, sweet kisses, the mellow Rains start 
The virgin flowers a-blossom, 



LULLABY. 37 

And ripen their beauty till fragrant lips part, 
And Love's jewel gleams rich in their bosom. 

Faint with love wingeth the wantoning Wind, 
And yearns as its heart were a-breaking, 

And kisses sweet kisses, till buds be untwined, 
And the young leaves all are awaking. 

And there 's nothing so dainty-sweet in life 
As to kiss the Maid glowing and tender, 

Till the heart of the Wife giveth up in the strife, 
Full-flowering in Love's splendour. 



LULLABY. 

Softly sink in slumbers golden, 
Warm as nestled Birdlings lie, 

Safe in Mother's arms enfolden, 
While I sing thy lullaby. 

Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, 

Sweet one, sleep to my Lullaby. 

Tho' the night doth darken, darken, 
Light will Mother's slumbers lie ; 

Still my heart will hearken, hearken, 
Lest my wee thing wake and cry. 

Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, 

Sweet one, sleep to my Lullaby. 

At thy golden gates of slumber, 
Stands my spirit tiptoe high, 

Filled with yearnings without number, 
In thine inner heaven to fly. 

Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, 

Sweet one, sleep to my Lullaby. 



88 THE TWO ROSES. 

In that world of mystic breathing, 
Spirit Sentinels, stand by ! 

Winnow, winnow, o'er my wee thing, 
Wings of Love that hover nigh. 

Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, 

Sweet one, sleep to my Lullaby. 

Sleep ! and drink the dew delicious ! 

Sleep ! till the morrow dawn is high ! 
Sleep with Mother near her precious, 

Wake ! with Mother waiting nigh. 
Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, 
Sweet one, sleep to my Lullaby. 



THE TWO ROSES. 

Softly stept she over the lawn, 
In vesture light and tree ; 
A floating Angel might have drawn 
Her hair from heaven in a glory dawn, 

And her voice rang silverly. 
Then up she rose on her tiny tiptoes, 
Her white hand catches, her fingers close ; 
You are tall and proud, my dainty Rose ! 
But I have you now, said She. 

O so lightly over the lawn, 

Step for step went he ! 
Thinking how, from His hiding-place, 
The war of Roses in her face, 

Dear Love would laugh to see ! 
Two arms suddenly round her he throws, 
Two mouths, turning one way, close ; 
You are tall and proud, my dainty Rose ! 

But I have you now, said He. 



SONG. SO 



SONG. 



" Farewell, Sweet ! may you find a nest 

Of home in haven dearer ; 
And safelier rest upon the breast 

Of truer love and nearer ! 
May favours fall, and blessings flow 

For you, and cares come never ! 
But kiss me, dear, before you go, 

And then shake hands for ever." 

Her very heart within doth melt, 

And gather while she lingers 
A weeping warmth, as tho* it felt 

A wee Babe's feeling fingers : 
The minutes pass, they do not part, 

And vain was all endeavour ; 
A touch had closed them heart to heart, 

And hands were claspt for ever. 



L LETTS 



HUGH MILLER'S GRAVE. 

Before the grim Grave closes, let me drop 

My few poor flowers upon his Coffin lid ! 

I loved the man : his taking roughness too 

I liked ; it was the Sword-hilt rough with gems. 

I loved him living, not with that late love 

Which asks for rootage in the dead man's grave, 

And must be writ in Marble to endure. 

To many he seemed stern, for he could guard 

His tongue with his good teeth : to some he showed 

Rough as the Holly's lower range of leaves, 

His prickly humour all alive with spears : 

But if you climbed to the serener height, 

You found a life in smooth and shining leaf, 

And crowned with calm, and lying nearer heaven 

Low lies the grandest head in all Scotland. 
We '11 miss him when there 's noble work to do ! 
We '11 miss him coming thro' the crowded street, 
Like plaided Shepherd from the Ross-shire Hills, 
Stalwart and iron-gray and weather-worn ; 
His tall head holding up a lonely light 
Of steadfast thought still burning in his eyes, 
Like some masthead-light lonely thro' the night ; 
His eyes, that rather dreamed than saw, deep-set 
In the brow's shadow, looking forward, fixed, 
On something which we saw not, solemn, strange ! 



. 



HUGH MILLER'S GRAVE. 41 



He was a Hero true as ever stept 
Tn the Forlorn Hope of a warring world : 
And from opposing circumstance his palm 
Drew loftier stature, and a lustier strength. 
From the far dreamland height of youthful years 
He flung his gage out mid the trampling strife, 
And fought his way to it with spirit that cut 
Like a scythed Chariot, and took up his own. 
Once more Childe Roland to the dark tower came, 
Saw bright forms beckon on the battlements, 
And stormed thro' fighring'foes, true steel to steel ; 
Slow step by step he won his winding way, 
And reached the top, and stood up Victor there ; 
And yet with most brave meekness it was done. 

His life-tree fair of leaf, and rich in fruit I 
We could not see it mouldering at the heart. 
We knew not how in nights of pain he groped, 
And groped with bleeding feel down the dark 

Crypts 
Of consciousness, to find the buried sense ; 
When the faint flame of being flickering low, 
Made fearful shadows spectral on the walls ; 
And beckoning terrors muttered in the dark ; 
Old misery-mongers moaned along the wind ; 
The lights burned blue as Death were breathing 

near, 
And dead hands seemed to reach and drag him 

down. 
The powers of Evil often have a hand 
With human Lots in the dim urn of Fate. 

The awful Dark flung over him a pall 
Of pain, hot hands of hell were on his eyes, 
And Devils drew him thro' the cold night-wind ; 
But while they held the helpless body bound, 
The spirit broke away. That rent was death ! 
The iron will wherewith he cleft his path 
From the stone-quarries to the heights of fame, 



42 HUGH MILLER'S GRAVE. 

Still strove for freedom when the leap was death. 
*But, never doubt God's Children find their home 
By dark as well as day./ The life he lived, 
And not the death he died, was first in judgment. 
It is the writing on the folded scroll 
Death sends, and not the seal, that God will judge. 

I love to think the Spirit of Cowper caught 
Hold of his poor weak wandering hands in help, 
As at the dark door he in blindness groped. 
How it would touch that tender soul to read 
The earthly memories written in his face ! 
Such memories as ope the gates of heaven : 
And he who soothed him with last words on earth 
Might whisper his first welcome in the heavens, 
And lead him thro' cool valleys green where grow 
The leaves of healing by the river of life, 
Where tears and travel-stains are wiped away, 
All troubled thoughts laid in ambrosial rest, 
And there is no more pain. 

Then as they bowed 
Before His throne who sitteth in the Heavens, 
Perchance the pleading Poet prayed that he 
Might sit beside him at th' eternal feast. 
The fancy flower-like from his coffin grew 
Even while I lookt. He lay as Death did seem 
Only a dream he might have dreamed before ; 
All peaceful as the face of Sabbath morn : 
The meekened witness of another world. 
That stern, white stillness had a starry touch, 
As his last look had caught the first of heaven. 
The battle-armour of a soldier soul 
Lay battered, but still bright from many blows, 
Upon the field ; and such as few could wear. 

The ghosts of last year leaves, that last night rose 
And rustled in their spectral dance of death, 
Are laid and silent in a shroud of snow ! 



HUGH MILLER'S GRAVE. 43 

The day is dark above the long, dark host ! 

The sad husht heavens seem choked, but cannot 

weep ! 
Many pale faces, many tristful eyes, 
With dumb looks pleading for the kindly rain 
That comes not when the heart can only cry 
With unshed tears, close round his wintry grave ! 
The lonely men whose lives are still a-light 
And shining when the tired toilers sleep, 
To whom Night brings the larger thoughts like 

Stars. 
I marvel if among them there is one 
Who shudders when men speak of such a death 
As if they named His — who has longed to pluck 
Death's cool hand down upon the burning brain, 
But chokes the secret in his heart as though 
He crusht a hissing serpent in his hand, 
Lest it scream out, and his white ;ac3 be known ! 

Ah ! come away, for sorrow is a child 

That needs no nursing ! And all seems so strange. 

One last look, and then home to feel and feel 

What we have lost; and when from the dark earth 

A spring-tide dawn of leaf-li^ht glistens green, 

And Nature with her dewfall and her rain 

Gives to our grief the last calm tender touch, 

And makes the Heartsease grow from out his grave, 

In those sweet days when hearts are tenderest 

For those who never come back with the flowers, 

Upon some balmy Eve so beautiful 

We should not wonder if an Angel stood 

Suddenly at our side ; the silent march 

Of all the beauty culminating thus ! 

Then let us come, dear friend, and spend an hour — 

While Nature kneeleth in all places lowly, 

God's blessing resting on a time so holy — 

At the communion table of His tomb. 






LADY LAURA. 



LADY LAURA. 

I. 

The Rainbow ! lo, its living arch 

Of glory spans the sparkling green, 
Like Spirit Bridge that all unseen, 

We passed thro' on the midnight march. 

Midsummer Morn her silvery-gray 
Rain-veil uplifteth fold on fold ; 
And purple-tinged, and topped with gold, 

The white clouds kindle and float away 

Across the violet-shadowed hills 

That take from heaven their soft attire ; 

With fragrance and with sheeny fire 
All the blue round of Ether fills. 

Into rich flames of emerald break 

The woods against the ruddied light. 
A dance of radiance bickers bright 

As laughter o'er a dimpling cheek ; 

In sapphire rain heaven ripples down : 

The sweet south-winds waft opened wide 
The glory-gates of Summer-tide ; 

A starry sweep of flowers is strown 

Down the green meadows; white and gold, 
It laughs along the glowing ground : 
Such throng of blessings dances round 

The old World's heart ; lo, these unfold. 



48 LADY LAURA. 

At faery palace-portals peer 

Quick eyes of Birds that sing i' the sun ; 

Their hearts with music overrun ; 
Listens each leafy forest-ear. 

Wee cups of flowery wine brim high, 
By the way-side, on brier and bush ; 
As lifted in a waiting hush 

By unseen hands for passers by. 

Her ripe cheek on the air, red Rose ! 

She leaneth from her fragrant bower ; 

Like lady from her latticed tower ; 
And by sweet force of beauty blows ! 

Bright-hearted with a golden dream, 
The little daisy lifts its head ; 
Its wee lips glister wet and red ; 

Its look is thankful as a hymn. 

The wildest weed the wind hath sown, 
And commonest grass, are glorified, 
Even as the Tulip in her pride ; 

The trumpet of her beauty blown. 

All Life lies in a bath of balm, 
Feeling the lavish glory flow; 
With nought to do but thrill and grow 

In strength, and joy, and luscious calm. 

Now Love breathes dewier delight, 

In cool green ways, and tender gloom ; 
Being hath such a dazzling bloom ; 

Its sun of bliss grows over-bright. 

O balmy Morn ! O tender type ! 

What tearful wooings of the May 
Have brought about this bridal-day 

Of Earth the rathe with June the ripe. 



LADY LAURA. 49 

But, we must turn where Greed for Toil 

Hath closed and claspt Morn's pictured book ; 
Where Nature hath a Gnome-like look, 

And from her features dies the smile. 



II. 

Pleasantly rings the Chime that calls to the 

Bridal-hall or Kirk ; 
But the Devil might gloatingly pull for the peal 

that wakes the Child to work ! 
" Come, little Children," the Mill-bell rings, and 

drowsily they run, 
Little old Men and Women, and human worms 

who have spun 
The life of Infancy into silk ; and fed, Child, 

Mother, and Wife, 
The factory's smoke of torment, with the fuel of 

human life. 
O weird white face, and weary bones, and whether 

they hurry or crawl, 
You know them by the factory-stamp, they wear it 

one and all. 
The Factory-Fiend in a grim hush waits till all are 

in, and he grins 
As he shuts the door on the fair, fair world without, 

and hell begins ! 
The least faint living rose of health from the child- 
ish cheek he strips, 
To run the thorn in a Mother's heart : and ever he 

sternly grips 
His sacrifice ; while Life's soiled waters turns his 

wildering wheels ; 
And shouts, till his rank breath thicks the air, and 

the Child's brain Devil-ward reels. 

From cockcrow until starlight, very patiently they 

plod ; 
A sea of human faces turning sadly up to God. 
4 



50 LADY LAURA. 

O wan white winter world that hides no coloured 

dreams of Spring ! 
No summer sunshine brightens ; no buds blossom ; 

no birds sing. 
In at the windows Nature looks, and sings, and 

smiles them forth, 
To walk with her, and talk with her, and see the 

summering Earth ; 
And drink the air that cools the heart in pathways 

dim with dew ; 
While the miracle of Morning raises alorified life 

anew. 
But they are shut from the heavenly largess ; they 

must stint and moil, 
Tho' Death stare ghastly in their face, and life is 

endless toil. 
Did you mark how vacantly they eyed this land of 

loveliness, 
The Flower of Sleep into their eyes, your heart 

would ache to press. 
The moving glory of the heavens, their pomp and 

pageantry, 
Flame in their shadowed faces, but no soul comes 

up to see. 
They see no Angels lean to them ; they stretch no 

spirit-hand ; 
Melodious Beauty sings to them ; they cannot 

understand. 

Yet here, where the sweet flower of life may hoard 
no precious dew, 

To feed its heart of greenness, keep the glory of 
its hue ; 

Here, where the fingers of Work and Want are 
writing silent, slow, 

Their warrant for the grave on many a Mother's 
darling's brow ; 

Here, where the Fiend doth trample out the soul- 
sparks day by day ; 



LADY LAURA. 51 

Here, where such seed of God is rotting in the kill- 
ing clay ; 

Some Saviour- Seraph walks the waves of sorrow 
and of sin, 

And some poor wrestler doth not sink the wreck- 
ing gulfs within ; 

And aye she rises with her charge in loving arms 
caressed. 

As Morning rises out of night, her love-star on her 
breast. 

III. 

In a grand old Gothic Palace, 

The Lady Laura dwells : 
It crowns the warm green valleys, 

High as the surge of summer swells. 
There, with her emerald chalice, Spring 

Kneels, offering beauty's wine ; 
There, in a land of enchantment, sing 

The birds thro' shower and shine. 
'T is a noble solitude serene, 

Where the sudden glory glows ! 
In a happy nook of nestling green, 

That virginal flower blows, — 
Just in the sweetness of the bud, 

Brimming with brightness and balm ; 
The tenderest glimpse of Womanhood 

Golden, and sweet, and calm. 
She is the Lily of the land ; 

Born neither to spin nor toil : 
She can rest her fair cheek on her dainty white 
hand, 

While the human honey-bees moil. 
O the world of rich visions that peer in her eyes ! 

Around her what fantasies dance ! 
As she leans in her air of paradise, 

And the bower of dalliance : 
But her earnest life is sorrowfully 

O'ershadowed from above : 



52 LADY LAURA. 

She feels the ache of Life's mystery, 

And she feels the hurt of Love. 
The Lady Laura's soul is sad 

For the suffering under the sun : 
She looks on the world, and is only glad 

For the duties to be done. 
She might have moved by in the pageant grand 

Sweet slip of a lordly line ! 
Nor soiled the glory of her white hand, 

And fairy fingers fine ; 
And swam in this world's wine and oil, 

With those who sink for the next, 
Faint with delight, and plundered Toil 

With no strange thought perplext. 
O the bnrnisht stream would have bravely borne 

Her, dancing down in its whirl ; 
And the dark wreck-kingdom have proudly worn 

On its bosom the pure queen-pearl. 
But Sorrow hath toucht her young, young years, 

When their rose-light was smiling and fair ; 
And her eyes have wept the sharp, sharp tears, 

That pierce through all mirage of air. 
Ah, the Poor ! with her finer sense she hears 

How they moan in their cloud of care. 
They will tell you down in the valleys 

What the Orphan Heiress hath done ; 
How the grand old Gothic Palace 

With Love's new wine doth run. 
She is Dawn on the cold hill-tops that divide 

The poor from their neighbour Rank ; 
The first bright wave of a sluggish tide, 

That hath overleapt its bank. 
And to Lady Laura by window and door, 

Hearts climb with the Roses up, 
Their blessings to breathe, and their pride to 
pour, 

In many a crowning cup. 
Rebel hindrance she treads queenly down, 

Where it stands in her Throne's high way. 



LADY LAURA. 53 

O Factory-Fiend with the fearful frown, 
She will bloom in your desert to-day. 

IV. 

The lady Light hath Daughters seven, 
In sovereign state sit smiling fair 
On their cloud-throne ; but down the air 

They float from arms of clasping Heaven : 

For they their lofty home will leave, 
To winnow, on their golden plumes, 
Through ocean-bowers, and water-glooms ; 

And wondrous spells of beauty weave 

To clothe the sea-shells in their trance 
So lone and cold, with coloured lights, 
And jewel-flames ; till their dim Night 's 

Alive with shapes of radiance. 

On Alpine heights a little Flower 
From its snow-cradle soft doth reach ; 
And with its tiny hands beseech 

Thy vesture-hem, Eternal Power ! 

Then straightway help of heaven descends, 

And vital influences run 

Down golden ladders of the sun, 
And pleading life wins spirit-friends. 

Thus souls in barrenest solitude 
Oft bring the kindly powers down, 
To lighten on them with a crown, ■ 

Or cheer them with immortal food. 

And thus on one poor Worker's sight 
Dawns Lady Laura through the mirk, 
Much marvelling how there may lurk 

A presence toucht with tender light. 



54 LADY LAURA. 

His lite stands still to hear what fate 
Comes with the step of mystery ; 
And husht for some event to be, 

In conscious calm the waters wait. 

She sees a prayer for rest and air 
In every face, but, in his eyes 
Alone, are childish memories ; 

And his the only spirit there 

That waves the Seraph-wand of fire, 
To flight the Serpent flickering near. 
One jewel in that dark Mine ! and clear 

It flashes as she brightens nigher. 

And all beside how dull and grim ! 
O saintly show of maiden grace ! 
From out a golden mist, her face 



Daughter of Light ! she seems to swim, 
As on the wings of a mighty love ; 
Sad-smiling that blind world above; 

Sunning that human forest dim. 

She speaks to him ; she takes his hand ; 

With such a gracious tenderness! 

The tears up in his eyes will press ; 
Life's waste in sudden flower doth stand. 

As when the spirit of Winter old 
Passes away in a dream of spring. 
The quick buds burst, and shimmering 

All into fluttering wings unfold, 

And wave so strong, and thrill so free, 
As they the wakened world would wing 
Along the warm way of the Spring, 

Where they are drawn deliciously : 



LADY LAURA. 55 

So from his life a burst of wings 

Is thrilling leaf-like for the light ; 

And in that Splendour's wake of white, 
They make melodious murmurings. 

Light, Music, Fragrance, seem to kiss 
And swathe him in a bloom of fire ; 
Make shining beauty his attire, 

And bury his dead past in bliss. 

At her soft touch ethereal dies 

The old dark, as Morning's spear of light 
Doth gently touch the dying night, 

And from it Day, a white Spirit, doth rise. 



V. 

The Lady Laura took him, in her kind and 
queenly way, 

From out, that cruel iron world, to the tender hu- 
man day. 

There all the folded bloom of life like a banner 
rich unfurled, 

And waved luxuriant in the air of a glad and 
glorious world. 

She fed his mind, she led his mind, thro' vistas 

strange and sweet; 
Ah, blessed boon to toil and lay the fruitage at her 

feet! 
She took his widowed Mother ; bless her full and 

flowing hand ! 
To rest her weary bones from toil, and live upon 

her land. 

Their barren world of poverty with flowers she 

girdled round, 
Till life that toiled with bleeding feet can walk on 

softer ground. 



56 LADY LAURA. 

My Lady comes ; my Lady goes ; his being dotb 

rejoice, 
A breaking sea of rapture ; every wave uplifts a 

voice. 

Like dungeoned foe that seeth the King's daughter 

walking nigh, 
He blesseth the revealing dark for the beauty 

throned high. 
And in the beating of his heart, and flashing of his 

eye, 
A new life climbeth, — waving glory, — as she pas- 

seth by. 

My Lady comes ; my Lady goes ; he can see her 
day by day, 

And bless his eyes with her beauty, and with bless- 
ings strew her way 

My Lady comes ; my Lady goes ; she passes from 
his sight, 

As daylight dies into the skies, and at her gate 
stands Night. 



VI. 

An, little thinks my Lady 

Of the subtle seedling sown ; 
But, fruitful was the silence 

Where its secret life hath grown. 
From human love's great ocean 

It draws the nursing springs; 
And 't is fed on hidden l nn? 

TJiat her fragrant beauty b. -^s. 

Ah, little thinks my Lady, 
As the days and seasons roll ; 

How she took him by the hand, 
To jw»«s in to his soul. 



LADY LAURA. 57 

There she lies in a light of smiles ; 

And like a soft caress, 
Her voice goes soothing, soothing 

With a kiss of tenderness. 

O Love, tho' shut without, will laugh 

All barriers above ; 
And higher as they soar, still towers 

The stature of mighty Love. 
And bud by bud, the climbing seed 

Into a tall tree springs ! 
Ah, little thinks my Lady 

What the Bird in the branches sings ! 



VII. 

" She smiled on me, she smiled on me, 
And I walk in a glory now; 
'Tis writ on my cheek in a rose of pride; 
'T is read in a light on my brow. 

" She smiled on me, she smiled on me, 
I think as I sit alone ; 
And my heart o'er its tender secret 
Is brooding with love's sweet moan. 

u She smiled on me, she smiled on me, 
And that surging smile of light, 
In a happy silence, thro' my life 
Goes circling out oi" sight. 

" She smiled on me, she smiled on me, 
And my soul with bliss doth ache; 
So many a clue to happiness, 
I know not which to take! 

" She smiled on me, she smiled on me, 
And the human world goes by — 
In a sound as of Angels talking, 

And a feel as if Heaven swum nigh. 

• She stoopt to kiss me with her smile, 
Thro' the clouds where I darkly lay; 



58 LADY LAURA. 

As she glided thro ? my night, Sweet Moon! 
High on her heavenly way. 

" She stoopt to kiss me with her smile, 
. And life soared up in flame ! 
But, for my worship, not my kiss, 
The glorious phantom came. 

" She smiled on me, she smiled on me ; 
Ah me, that in her smiles 
My heart might hreak, in a wide love-wave, 
On her bosom's happy Isles ! " 



VIII. 

As earliest flowers, the sweet first-love of Spring, 
Jive tenderest in their fragrance — saintliest pure, 
Love's firstlings, budding in the heart, unfold 
Most precious sweet of all the lusty year ; 
And all his life is with their fragrance filled 
In shy and shady nooks he steals, to brood 
O'er what his heart for worship lifteth up. 

With a ripe flush in his warm face the Dawn 
Uplifts the veil of dew-mist from the shape 
Of Beauty sleeping on the lap of Earth : 
So down into his secret soul he peers, 
To see the veiled Beauty thro' its mist, 
And bows to bless her where she lies alight, 
Unconseious of the reddening dawn of love. 

A face, like nestling luxury of flowers ; 

Soft hair, on which Light drops a diadem ; 

A mouth of roses wet with damask wine : 

The sweetest eyes, — ah, when in their far heaven 

Shall Love rise up and beckon with the palm ? — 

And all the beauty hid from mortal sight, 

Like lily- bud in leaves of cool green light. 

liis happy eyes o'erflow with holy dew, 
Gathered in the rich air of secret love. 



LADY LAURA. 59 

Anon his heart goes wandering like a wind 
That reels thro' meads of spice, o'er hills of myrrh, 
Drunk with flower-fragrance, and the wine of love, 
And making music at the lightest touch, 
Till faint with sweets it wearies into rest. 



IX 

Lady of the forest 

Is the Silver Birk ; 
Shimmering in the sunshine ; 

Shivering at the mirk ; 
Hocking in her rapture ; 

A dancing Psaltress slim ! 
Her hair a shower of beauty ! 

Her motion a faery-swim ! 
Or, when dewy Quiet 

Pours its chrism of balm, 
And her tremulous tresses 

Are bound with a tender calm ; 
Rustling in her richness, 

A Glory in the land ; 
Veiled when the gloaming 

Is gray with shadows grand ; 
'Mid the dance of colours, 

And semitones of green, 
Gleams this daintier Spirit 

That in leafdom is the Queen. 
Of all the trees o' the forest, 

He loves the Silver Birk, 
Shimmering in the sunshine, 

Shivering at the mirk. 
So like the Lady Laura 

In her purity and grace ; 
Dreaming in its shadow, 

Often rose her face ! 
And as when a Sunburst 

Goldens the green aisles, 






60 LADY LAURA. 

The woodland water smileth, 
So his heart withiQ him smiles. 



" Just a smile i' the face of Nature ; 
Just a mirror of May-morn; 
Is the shining, comely creature, 
Worshipt by the peasant-born. 

" Beauty has no rarer blossom, 
Budding fain, or flowering fair; 
Nestling to a Mother's bosom, 
If a lover's hand should dare. 

" She is graceful as the greenly 

Waving boughs in summer wind; 
And her beauty calm and queenly 
Wears its royal crown of mind'. 

" Might I bear Love's shield above her; 
Might I snood her silken hair; 
How my heart would round her hover 
On the tender wings of care ! 

" Ah, dear Heaven, all blessings shower 
On her sweet life's balmy bud; 
Till it lift immortal flower," 
In the bloomins fields of God." 



XI. 

A dazzling wonder in the dark of Dreams, 

His heart-hid Jewel gleams ; 

And for 'a peerless richness it doth range 

Thro' zones of radiant change. 

Breathing soft hues the glorious thing doth shine, 

With lustres Opaline. 

The shifting Sapphire lovingly beguiles, 

With dewy azure smiles. 

The Ruby now with soul of crimson yearns, 



LADY LAURA. 61 

Or like a blood-drop burns. 

The Topaz in transparent hand doth hold 

Imprisoned flame of gold. 

Now twinkles from soft shade the Emerald tender, 

A drop of cool green splendour. 

Or, with love-drooping eye, the Pearl o' the deep 

Melts in a sea of sleep. 

And now, wide ope, it lights the inner night, 

A starry Chrysolite. 

And aye, for a peerless richness it doth range 

The zones of radiant change. 



XII. 

One of the silent Poets of the world who find no 

word 
To utter their dumb soul of love, so, like the shy 

night-bird, 
They break their hearts in music ; die in sorrow's 

solitude ; 
One Autumn eve lie sat beneath the white Grace 

of the Wood ; 
Where Birds of Thought so often brought his love 

ambrosial food ; 
When all the spirits of the flowers stole forth i' the 

hush of night, 
And all the greeny silence slumbered in a dream 

of light. 

The world lay in a purple calm, and tenderness of 

tears ; 
In every pulse of being lived the tenderness of 

years. 
He had wrestled with his passion, — caught up in 

its wild caress — 
Voluptuous as a Bride of Fire, with arms as pitiless. 
He had wept his pain in a fiery rain, and a calm 

came o'er his tears, 



62 LADY LAURA. 

As a vision of sweet Peace comes treading down 

War's cruel spears. 
Then in a trembling confidence of love to himself 

he talkt, 
And sang above his whispering heart, that felt what 

Spirit walkt. 

" We cannot lift the wintry pall 

From buried life; nor bring 
Back, with Love's passionate thinking, all 

The glory of the Spring. 
But soft along the old green way 

We feel her breath of gold; 
Her radiant vesture ripples gay, — 

She comes ! and all is told. 

" So in Her absence Memory 

Aye strives, but cannot paint 
The V is ion of sweet Majesty; 

The beauty of my Saint. 
She comes! like dawn in spring her fame! 

My winter- world doth melt; 
The thorns with flowers wave a-flame! 

She smiles! and all is felt." 

Is it a vision ! or the pure pale face 
Of Lady Laura, coming thro' the trees ? 
Strange fire consumes the rich dew of her eyes ! 
Trembles her lip : her soul, tho' very calm, 
Gleams like a naked sword from its soft sheath. 
Ah, she has found his secret in its nest ? 
And will she crush him with her silent scorn ? 
He dare not know. She speaks ; he scarcely hears 
So loud the blood goes singing through his brain. 
" I am no longer mistress at the Hall ; 
False friends usurp my title and my lands, 
And keep them till the Law shall do me right.. 
I leave to-morrow morn. I think you have 
The mounting spirit to rise where'er you fall, 
And shall rejoice to mark your fortunes shine." 

She paused ; he raised his eyes to hers, and saw 
The unuttered something that could not be told. 



LADY LAURA. 63 

Her rustling robe thrilled all his life, and soft 
Her fragrant footsteps died upon the night. 



XIII. 

Like one caught in the Tempest's arms unseen, 
Dasht overboard unheard, and left all night 
With the mad waves, blindfolded by the gloom, 
All thro' that desolate dark he wrestled lone ; 
Tossing tumultuous in a storm of soul ; 
And lived his life o'er in the agony stern ; 
As on the drowning rushes all the past. 

Again he saw her in the Silk-mill stand 
Complete in beauty, crowned with meekest calm, 
As missioned Angel down to Hell wings when 
Some suffering spirit's time is up in Heaven. 
He went with her among the Poor Avhere fell 
Her smile as sunshine on the harvest land ; 
And from the folded flowers of thorny life, 
Her presence charmed a kindlier spirit forth ; 
He, hoarding up their blessings in his heart. 

He saw her in the spring-dawns gliding down, 
Like Morning on the world, to tend the flowers 
That from her touch sprang thrilling with delight 
Darkened into himself, he watcht, all eye, 
Like Spirit that sees its mortal love go by, 
Itself invisible. 

In languorous noons 
Of summer, when, a Shape of fragrant warmth, 
Nature seems glowing thro' her sumptuous robe ; 
With all her beauty rounding tenderly ; 
And from behind the tapestry of flowers, 
Her passion takes you with ambrosial breath ; 
He in the cool, green shadows would lie down, 
O'er him the leaves a lowe of glimmering gold, 



64 LADY LAURA. 

To kiss where the beloved foot had toueht, 
With lip of crimson fire, and fondling cheek, 
All tingling thro' and thro' with lightning life. 






He saw the visible Divinity 

O' the time and place, taking her twilight walk, 

Starrily moving in an air of smiles ; 

The serious sea-blue dreaming in her eyes ; 

Her lofty beauty robed about with heaven ; 

And drank the wine of wonder as she went, 

So tender hour by hour, love grew in his heart ; 

A dew-drop in the flower's cup held toward heaven 

Ah, happy times, when on the top of life 

He saw her beauty's daily sunrise, heard 

Her voice, and breathed the air made holy by her, 

And in her presence cloud-like sunned himself, 

With such sweet silent awe ; while all his heart 

With rich love trembled as 't would break for bliss; 

Like shaken dews in jewelled cups of morn ! 

Ah, happy nights, and lustrous darks, in which 
He watcht her casement when the house was mute, 
And Silence took the place in loving arms, 
Where the tall Chestnuts husht her beauty round, 
Uplifting in their hands a light of flowers ! 
There with its speechless yearning strove his heart, 
O'erflowing till the night was filled with love. 

How often thro' the winter wind and rain, 

His spirit fluttered to her, winged with blessings. 

And he stood clothed and warmed with thoughts 

of her ; 
And thro' the darkness and the cold, his love 
Glowed like a watch-fire in a wilderness ; 
Or glistened upward in a light of tears ; 
Soul-diamonds of the purest water — tears 
Trembling with tenderness, alive with light; 



LADY LAURA. 65 

Such as the Angels wear for jewels in heaven. 
Ah, happy times that wave their sad farewells, 
To come no more, no more, O Nevermore ! 
To him, who, tasting the forbidden tree, 
Now sat at Eden gates, and they were closed. 

Sudden a thought struck new life thro' him aa 

strikes 
Land on the swimmer's feet who gives up lost ! 
He who could die for her, could he not live 
For her, and help her win her rightful throne ? 
He sat not down on shore to mourn his wreck ; 
Not his the heart to wail when he might work. 

That night hath passed ; but from its death-bed 

rose 
A Star, to sing and sparkle in his soul, 
And light him to some crowned accomplishment. 



XIV. 

O mighty mystery London, there be children still, 

who hold 
Her palaces are silver-rooft, her pavements are of 

gold ; 
And blindly in that dark of fate, they grope for the 

golden prize, 
For somewhere hidden in her heart the charmed 

treasure lies. 
Such glory burning in the skies, she lifts her crown 

of light 
Above the dark, we see not what we trample in the 

night. 
O merry world of London ! O aching world of 

moan, 
How many a soul hath stoopt to thee, and lost its 

starry throne !/ 
5 



60 LADY LAURA. 

There Circe brims her sparkling ruby, dancing 

welcome, — laughs 
All scruples down with wicked eye, and the crazed 

lover quaffs. 
Until the fires of Hell have left white ashes on his 

lips ; 
And there they pass whose tortured hearts the 

worm that dies not grips. 
The stricken crawl apart to die. There, many a 

bosom heaves 
With merry laughters mournful as the dancing of 

dead leaves. 
There griping Greed rich-heaps the yellow wealth 

of Bank and Shop, 
As Autumn leaves grow goldenest when rotten-ripe 

to drop : 
And many melt the marrow of their Manhood, burn 

its bloom, 
In Passion's serpent arms, and with her kiss of fire 

consume : 
And Vanity sideling seeks a mirror in each passing 

face. 
But through the dark some luminous lives flash up 

and pray Heaven's grace. 

All beauteous stand her Idols shining on their azure 

height, 
And from their fairy heaven lean veiled Shapes, 

half-dim, half-bright ; 
They draw us with a dream delicious to the aching 

sight; 
Armfuls of warm delight, white waists, ripe lips, 

and merry Brides ; 
Beds of lilies and roses ! low sweet music, worlds 

besides ! 
And day by day, on each highway, from many a 

sunny shire, 
The country life comes green to wither for the 

hungry fire. 



LADY LAURA 67 

All into London leaping, leaping flows the human 
sea, 

Where, wreck at heart, or prize in arms, the waves 
flash merrily. 

With a prayer to God on high, he sees the tumult, 
hears the strife, 

And dives, from out the gulfs to snatch a nobler- 
crowned life. 

The Lady Laura leaneth like a bending heaven 
above, 

And his life is safely steadied with the anchor of 
his love. 

Three times into the City's heart there ran the news 

of Spring : 
Sweet primrose-time is come again, and silver 

showers sing, 
ffce cloudy imagery of heaven sails o'er him day 

by day, 
JEe matches parching as the Palm when rain floats 

far away, 
AW thirsty, as the Hero's soul with glory's burning 

drouth ! 
And yearning, as the dying yearn for a death-bed 

in the South ! 
For Spring's warm breath, and bright caress, and 

pleasant feel of leaves, 
And all her beauty wet with morn, his heart within 

him grieves. 
The country memories rich inlaid, so fragrantly are 

stirred, 
As spice-winds whisper something low, or sings a 

careless Bird. 
The green-woods beckon spirit-like thro' dreams of 

azure sky ; 
All heaven looks out from a flower as from his 

Beloved's eye, 
And visions of a lovelier-lighted life go glimmering 

bv. 






68 LADY LAURA. 

Above that wilderness o' the weary oft he sat alone, 
Watching the surges of his soul, which, ever and 

anon, 
Revealed the proud Avave-wrestler Hope forever 

battling on ! 
And ever thro' the dark the Lady Laura smiling 

shone. . 
Ah, the dear night was all his own, life rose fantas- 
tic-towered ; 
Full-honeyed with its folded Spring, his shut heart 

bud-like flowered. 
Upon the stream that pined all day, the calm of 

heaven doth rest ; 
Its Star of love, tho' far above, keeps bridal on its 

breast. 
Pure, pained, Loveliness ! she walks a world of 

wrong and guile, 
Yet nightly looketh in his face with the same sweet, 

patient smile. 
While ever and forever goeth up to God for doom, 
The City's breath of life and death, in glory or in 

gloom ; 
And there it rings each spirit round, of light or 

darkness woven, 
And they shall wake and walk their self-unfolded 

hell or heaven. 
Nightly a merry harvest-home the Devil in London 

drives, 
And gathers on the shores of hell the wreck of 

human lives. 
While God sits over all, in heaven, and in His 

hand doth hold, 
The Flower of Silence shedding worlds like seed 

of sunny gold. 



LADY LAURA. 69 



XV. 



A lonely life, a lonely lot ; 

He climbs his mountain day by day ; 

But finds beside the stoniest way 
Love's wild rock-honey, and fainteth not. 

He sees the Vision shine afar ; 

Sweet wedded lives in happy home ; 

And strains his eyes against the gloom, 
Like Nuns that throb at prison-bar, 

Wooed by a dear and dazzling dream, 

When thro' the mirk Love's glory burns. 
The hearth of Home warm welcome yearns ; 

His face is glowing with the gleam 

And sparkle of their brimming cup, 

Who round the home-altar dance and sing, 
All in a golden marriage-ring, 

And light with love Life's picture up. 

They sit in nestling nook, and see 

The ripening promise of the years ; 
The budding quicks, the springing ears ; 

Flowers honey-wet, and fruits to be. 

As bridal-gifts from God above, 

The Children bring their glad new spring ; 

Fast joy's refrain their voices ring, 
All loud with mirth, or lown with love. 

Fine actions feed Love's hoi}' fire, 

Like sandal-wood of fragrant gold ; 
Till heavenward, glorious to behold, 

It breaks, in many a splendid spire. 

There, hand in hand, they reach across 
A double range of rich delights ; 



70 LADY LAURA. 

And climb in safety where the heights 
Of Life have many a chasm of Loss. 

A happy soul goes singing aloft, 

Ere closes their day-book of bliss, 
So gently clasped with a kiss, 

While loving eyes grow still more soft. 

" blessed Bird that soai-s and sings, 
And moves in heaven on triumphing wings; 

Then drops to rest 

Within my breast, 
And aye some balm of blessing brings. 

" Flower of mine, Life's stream may start 
Thy trembling leaves, but cannot thwart 
Love's calm below, 
Where wed roots grow 
In twin strength, smiling heart to heart. 

" crest of beauty on my brow ; 
light of love upon my prow; 
To the death-dark, 
I row my bark ; 
You gild with glory as we go." 

'T is merry to walk the deck of life, 

Tho' billows beat, and the wild winds blow ; 
, And proudly feel they rest below ; 
That precious freightage, weans and wife. 

But, he drifts on, in lonely bark, 

Past shining home, and singing isle. 
Fine Apparition, with a smile 

Like spirit-music ! in the dark 

Thy sudden beauty lightens near, 

And bows him to the knees in prayer. 
He needs long draughts of heavenly air, 

Who dives to clutch a pearl so dear. 



LADY LAURA. 71 



XVI. 



To-day, with his work done, the Victor stands ; 
His brows are bound by Lady Laura's hands. 
He conquered. To her feet he brought the prize 
Twin worlds of bliss were throbbing in her eyes. 
Sparkled her smiling soul like that of a child, 
And smiling, all her life in love-light smiled. 

She gloweth happy as the tender South, 
When Spring doth kiss her on the flowery mouth. 
The lilies white upon the stream of life 
Stir with the sweet feel of its dancing strife. 
If but one favouring breath of heaven move, 
Into his bosom drops the fruit of love. 

He lookt into the windows of her eyes 
To see Love, sitting by the hearth, arise 
And let him in, and lead him to his throne, 
For love and worship thro' all worlds his own : 
Then from the heart's heaven a sweet simple Grace 
Came blushing all the secret in her face, 
Dyeing her beauty daintier for embrace. 

On her white holy hand the ring of gold 
Exults its branch of glory to enfold. 
Comes forth in greeting all the country side, 
To welcome Lady Laura home, a Bride. 
Ring, merry bells, ring, blithesome bridal bells ! 
To the tune of happy hearts your triumph swells. 

Upon his life now leaneth dewily 

The rose of her ripe beauty rare to see. 

In honeyed light, and sweet with pleasant showers, 

Lies all the land, a coloured flame of flowers ; 

And with a sidelong grace smiles of the sight; 

Heaven shakes its bridal torch and laughs delight. 



72 LADY LAURA. 



XVII. 



"My life lay like a Sea-bud, dark upon the watery wold, 
That feels when Spring is in the world, and striveth to 

unfold, 
The breath of Love passed o'er me, and the Spring 

went laughing by, 
Till on a sudden I was 'ware, Beloved, thou Avert nigh! 
The Bird of Love to my window came, and sang a 

strain divine. 
Sweet Bird ! he makes his nest, I said, 'neath other 

eaves than mine: 
But many a day hath come and gone, and still he sits 

and sings 
His song of happy futures, and of dear remembered 

things. 

''My life went darkling like the Earth, nor knew it shone 

a Star 
To that dear Heaven on which it hung in worship from 

afar. 
0, many bared their bravery like flowers to the bee; 
She might have ranged thro' sunny fields, but nestled 

down by me: 
A King upon his Throne might have smiled her to his 

side; 
But, with a lowly majesty she came to me, my Bride, 
And grandly gave her love to me, the dearest thing on 

Earth, 
Like one who gives a jewel, all unweeting of its worth. 

u 0, was it an Immortal Child, left by a fair Dream-Bride, 
Seen in a world of vision with miue eyes stretcht spirit- 
wide? 
Or was the Image pictured, by the sun of another life, 
In secret soul, that I might know its living like my 

Wife? 
I know not; but, when luminous she floated on to me, 
Methought she flamed from out the mist of some far 

memory. 
The hiding Love just stirring the spring-roses of her 

face ; 
The picture of sweet Saintliness; the glory and the 
grace. 

'T was when the Earth her green lap spreads for Sum- 
mer's gorgeous gifts; 



LADY LAURA. 73 

And plump for kisses of the Sun, her ripened cheek 
uplifts; 
i When May among her flowers was caught in lusty arms 
of June ; 

She newly strung my harp of life, and played its sweet- 
est tune. 

O, I had been content to live in a cottage of the clay, 

So 1 might see and bless her, when she chanced to pass 
that way ; 

But she came down from her heaven, with a look of 
glorious pride, 

And I clasp my heart's sweet Vision; lo! a nestling 
human Bride." 



XVIII. 

Calm is their sheltered shore of life, caressed 
By gentle tides of peace, whose rnurtnurs are 
Of storms at rest, and sorrows sanctified. 
But not for them alone the honey-time, 
And bliss of being ! hearts were all too full 
Of lusty longing for all human good, 
And happiness was only meant to share. 
That luminous revealer, hallowing Love, 
Gave them the seeing eye, not drooping lid. 
His chosen are but caught up into Heaven, 
For wider vision of a suffering Earth. 
Their lavish bliss ran over to make rich, 
And kindle with a spring of joyful life 
The poor world kneeling at the feet of theirs. 
And not forgotten was that Factory-world, 
Which like a doomed Ship far away i' the night 
Pleaded — each port-hole lighted up for help ! 

Christ on the Cross for eighteen hundred years, 
And still His Poor their long redemption wait — 
Still tempted of the Devil in the Desert. 
Still are they, crouching by the fireless hearth, 
In the dead winter often driven to burn 
The bravest hangings of their house of life, 



74 LADY LAURA. 

To scare the gaunt wolf Hunger, whose eyes glare 

In at the window lit with bloody lust ! 
Sometimes a cry runs throbbing thro' the night, 
As tho' Creation quickened with the birth 
Of new lite strange and monstrous, in our world. 
Then startled Fear from his high lattice looks, 
With face as white, as death-toucht Want's below: 
There rage a people like a forest of tire ! 
Grim on the banner Labour's challenge flames, 
" Leave to live working, or die fighting." 

Fear 
Sends forth his Guards, and to his pillow slinks. 
Red Murder leaps up sudden in their midst; 
The gathering of fierce suffering breaks in blood : 
Begins again the old long agon} - , 
And Order reigns ! tho' many a day the Ghost 
Of Revolution at his banquet sits, 
And standeth Sentry at his door o' nights. 

O hopeless Poor, and impotently Rich ! 

() hurrying host of battling enmities, 

That, fighting, feel no earthquake rock the ground ! 

O human world, panting without the pale 

Of harmony, the universal law, 

Like Soul, with troublous wail, shut out of bliss ! 

Shall it not come, the time of which we dream, 

To crown long years of strife, and blood, and tears, 

When from the Book the Poet's thought shall step 

Clothed on with human lineaments, and live ? 

And this Ideal of our hopeful Brave 

Come down and dwell with us in daily life, 

And Earth and Heaven lie in each other's arms ? 

They deem so, who, with visionary eyes, 

Have held communion with that world to come ; 

Our wedded pair : their faith made quick by love; 

They look within — its Shadow comes that way. 

And they will make their outer life a dial, 

On which the inner light may rise and shine ; 



LADY LAURA. 75 

And touch with radiance soft some sullen spot 
Where falls the Devil's shadow, till a smile 
Is on its face as it turns up to God. 
Ho for the New World and its golden age 
Of delicate dream-work, and of rich romance ! 

They bought the Factory : turned its stream of toil 

To a flood of Joy, on Lady Laura's lands. 

There Life, whose dark and stagnant waters 

swarmed 
With hideous things, in merry radiance runs ; 
Brightens with health, and breaks in frolic spray ; 
Peeps thro' a garland green, and laughs in light ; 
Its rest, blesse^l as tho' the calm high heavens 
Had lookt it into some transfiguring trance, 
Then with light-hearted morrow sparkling on — 
So to the dark arch Death, thro' which the stream 
Will bicker or blacken for the shoreless sea. 

They built their little world, wherein the Poor 
Might grow the flower of Hope, and fruit of Love ; 
And human trees, with outstretcht arms of cheer, 
Might mingle music, wreathe in bud and bloom, 
And in their branches nest the birds of God, 
That in immortal beauty whitely hover, 
But come not down to build while boughs are bare. 

They bought and sold, they ploughed, and sowed, 

and reapt. 
Cheapness, Free Trade, and such Economy 
As suck their strength from human blood and tears ; 
Feeding on Beauty's waste, and Childhood's spring 
Shredding with wintry hand life's leafy prime; 
They bowed not down to — Baal of the strife 
That gives the Devil his own vantage-ground, 
Where each man's hand is at his brother's throat ; 
The knight in golden mail combats the naked ! 
And hearts must run with never-tiring wheels! 
The weak go down ; the Victors merciless 



76 LADY LAURA. 

Still wield the Sword of Selfish interest, 
To win their crown of Individual gain, 
And throne of Isolation cold and lone. 

Not this, but life of freedom, law of love ; 
The wine-press trod by each, the cup for all; 
In this serener world — this morning star 
That rises out of chaos and the night, 
Like throbbing heart of some Millennial Day. 
Here, life is no soul-sickening round of toil ; 
No need to blink the Spirit's longing sight. 
Here, simple Childhood opens vernal eyes, 
And young blood dances thro' the veins of Age. 
White Cottage homes rise from the sea of green, 
Like clouds where happy spirits sit and sing. 

The old wild-brier, Labour, from which spring 

The radiant Roses of a warmer world, 

With kindlier nurture blossoms forth anew, 

A glory of Flowers, and wears immortal green ; 

Breaks the stern granite, sparkling into beauty, 

And precious jewels glow from common stones : 

Soft white hands smoothe the brow of wrinkled 

Wrath ; 
The gentle balm of Love makes hard eyes soft, 
And melted hearts to swim thro' woe-worn looks, 
With sweet and delicate human tenderness. 
The trampled battle-field of sin-scarred faces 
Is healed with the harvest of ripe love ; 
Its frowning furrows crowned with ridged smiles. 

Over their World where Passion hurtled down 
Burning instead of beauty, as its sun, 
And all around was black eternal night ; 
Love's radiant shadow sheds an atmosphere 
Of soft celestial brightness, calm, and peace. 
And Life goes hand in hand with happy things; 
In lovely shadow-lands with spirits talks ; 
There with all gracious Shapes of Beauty walks, 



LADY LAURA. 77 

And wins their motion, majesty, and mien ; 
And rears his temple rich for God, inlaid 
With precious jewels and colours fair, and cries, 
" Behold how good and joyful a thing it is 
To dwell together in peace and unity." 

Thus Lady Laura and her peasant lord 
Built o'er the dead past their proud monument, 
That signals to far times their word of love : 
And God was with them smiling on their work.^ 
They wrought not without hindrance, sorrow and 

pain : 
Who work for Freedom win not in an hour : 
Their cost of conquest never can be summed ! 
They toil and toil thro' many a bitter day, 
And dark, when false friends flee, and true ones 

faint. 
The seed of that great Truth from which shall 

spring 
The forest of the future, and give shade 
To those who reap the harvest, must be watcht 
With faith that fails not, fed with rain of tears, 
And walled around with life that, fighting, fell. 






POEMS FOR CHRISTIE. 



FOR CHRISTIE'S SAKE. 

Upon us falls the shadow of night, 

And darkened is our day ! 
My Love will greet the morning light 

Four hundred miles away. 
God love her ! torn so swift and far 

From hearts so like to break ! 
And God love all who are good to her ; 
For Christie's sake. 

I know whatever spot of ground 

In any land we tread — 
I know the eternal arms are round ; 

That heaven is overhead ; 
And faith the mourning heart will heal, 

But many fears will make 
Our spirits faint, our fond hearts kneel, 
For, Christie's sake. 

Good-bye Dear ! be they kind to you 

As tho' you were their ain ! 
My Daisy opens to the dew, 

But shuts against the rain ! 
Never will New Moon glad our eyes 

But offerings we shall make 
To old God Wish ! and prayers will rise 
For Christie's sake. 

Four years ago we struck our tent ; 

O'er homeless Babes we yearned ; 
Our all — three darlings — with us went, 

But only two returned ! 
While life vet bleeds into Her grave 



82 for Christie's sake. 

Love ventures one more stake ; 
Hush, hush, poor Hearts ! if big, be brave, 
For Christie's sake. 

Like Crown to most ambitious brows 

Was Christie to us given ; 
To make our Home a holy house, 

And nursery of heaven ! 

softer was her bed of rest, 
Than lily's on the lake; 

Peace filled so deep each billowy breast, 
For Christie's sake. 

To music played by Harps and Hands 

Invisible, were we drawn 
O'er charmed seas, thro' faery lands, 

Under a dearer dawn ! 
We entered our new world of love 

With blessings in our wake, 
While prospering Heavens smiled above 
For Christie's sake. 

We gazed with proud eyes luminous 

On such a gift of grace — 
All heaven narrowed down to us 

In one dear little face ! 
And many a pang we felt, dear Wife, 

With hurt of heart and ache, 
All shut within like clasping knife, 
For Christie's sake. 

1 would no tears might e'er run down 

Her patient face, beside 
Such happy pearls of heart as crown 

Young Mother — new-made Bride ! 
For 'tis a face that, looking up 

To passing Heaven, might make 
An Angel stop, a blessing drop, 
For Christie's sake. 



for Christie's sake. 83 

If Love in that child's heart of hers 
Should breathe and break its calm, 

With trouble sweet as that which stirs 
The brooding buds of balm, — 

Listening at ear of peeping pearl 
Glistening in eyes that shake 

Their sweet dew down ! God bless our Girl . 
For Christie's sake. 

But Father ! if our Babe must mourn, 

Be merciful and kind ; 
And if our gentle Lamb be shorn, 

Attemper thou the wind ! 
Across the Deluge guide our Dove, 

And to thy bosom take 
With arm of love, and shield abore, 
For Christie's sake. 

We have had sorrows many and strange. 

Poor Christie ! when I'm gone, 
Some of my words will weirdly change 

If she read sadly on ! 
Lightnings, from what was dark of old, 

With meanings strange will break 
Of sorrows hid or dimly told 
For Christie's sake. 

Wife ! we should still try hard to win 

The best for our dear Child ; 
And keep a resting-place within, 

When all without grows wild. 
As on the winter graves the snow 

Falls softly flake by flake 
Our love should whitely clothe our woe, 
For Christie's sake. 

For one will wake at midnight drear 

From out a dream of death, 
And find no dear head pillowed near ; 



84 HUNT THE SQUIRT? EL. 



No sound of peaceful breatl 



May no weak wailing words arise, 

No bitter thoughts awake 
To see the tears in Memory's eyes : 
For Christie's sake. 

And There! where many crownless kings 
Of earth a crown shall wear, — 

The Martyrs who have borne the pangs 
Their palm at last shall bear. 

When, with our lily pure of sin 
Our heavenward way we take ; — 

There, may we walk with welcome in ; 
For Christie's sake. 



HUNT THE SQUIRREL. 

It was Atle of Vermeland 

In winter used to go 
A-hunting up in the pine forest, 

With snow-shoes, sledge, and bow. 

Soon his sledge with the soft fine furs 

Was heapt up heavily, 
Enough to warm old Winter with, 

And a wealthy man was he. 

When just as he was going back home, 

He lookt up into a Tree: , 
There sat a merry brown Squirrel that seemed 

To say — " You can't shoot me." 

And he twinkled all over temptingly, 

To the tip of his tail a-curl ! 
His humour was arch as the look may be 

Of a would-be-wooed, sweet Girl 



HUNT THE SQUIRREL. 85 

That makes the Lover follow her, follow her, 

All his life up-caught 
A-noating on with sleeping wings, 

High in the heaven of thought. 

Atle he left his sledge and furs ; 

All day his arrows rung, — 
The Squirrel went leaping from bough to bough, — 

Only himself they stung. 

He hunted far in the dark forest, 

Till died the last day-gleams ; 
Then wearily laid him down to rest 

And hunted it thro' his dreams. 

All night long the snow fell fast 
' And covered his snug fur-store ; 
Long, long did he strain his eyes, 
But never found it more. 

Plome came Atle of Vermeland, 
No Squirrel ! no Furs for the mart ! 

Empty head brought empty hand ; 
Both a very full heart. 

Ah, many a one hunts the Squirrel, 

In merry or mournful truth ; 
Until the gathering snows of age 

Cover the treasures of Youth. 

Deeper into the forest dark, 

The Squirrel will dance all day ; 
Till eyes grow blind and miss their mark, 

And hearts will lose their way. 

My Darling ! should you ever espy 

This Squirrel up in the tree, 
With a dancing devil in its eye, 

Just let the Squirrel be. 



86 CHRISTIE'S POOR OLD GRAN. 



CHRISTIE'S POOR OLD GRAN. 

No Green aoe, beautiful to see, 

Hath Poor Old Gran : 
No ripe life mellowed goldenly 

Hath Poor Old Gran. 
One by one we have left her fold, 
Her lonely hearth is growing cold, 
Faint is her smile as the primrose gold, 

Our Poor Old Gran. 

Ah ! whitened face, and withered form, 

Of Poor Old Gran ! 
Beaten and blancht in many a storm : 

Poor Old Gran ! 
She hath wept the bitter tears that sow 
The dark grave-violets in the snow 
Where once the red young rose did glow. 

Poor Old Gran ! 

There's few have lived a harder lot, 

Poor Old Gran ! 
But she toiled on and murmured not; 

Poor Old Gran ! 
For us she toiled on starvingly, 
And fought the wolf of poverty ; 
Upon her heart's blood suckled me, 

Our Poor Old Gran ! 

Her river of life hath roughly rolled; 

Poor Old Gran ! 
A Wreck lies dark, its tale untold, 

Poor Old Gran ! 
Yet shall her old heart laugh with ye, 
My Birdsnest in the mouldering tree ! 
And soft in heaven her bed shall be ! 

Poor Old Gran ! 



Christie's poor old gran. 8? 

The grip of Poverty is grim ; 

Poor Old Gran ! 
Lustres of lip and eye soon dim ; 

Poor Old Gran ! 
But thro' the frailty of her face 
There gleams a light of tender grace, 
Or else I see thro' a tearful haze 

Poor Old Gran ! 



Poor Old Gran ! 
How your weakness hurried on wings, 

Poor Old Gran ! 
You stood at Bridal, Birth, and Bier: 
Our darlings dead and gone seem near 
When you are near, and make more dear 

Our Poor Old Gran ! 

So come to our Cottage up the lane, 

Poor Old Gran ! 
Follow our fortune's harvest wain, 

Poor Old Gran ! 
We '11 shelter you from wind and rain, 
Hunger you shall not know again, 
Plenty shall smile away your pain, 

Poor Old Gran ! 

And little laughing Stars shall rise 

On Poor Old Gran ! 
In the clear heaven of Childhood's eyes, 

For Poor Old Gran ! 
Wee fingers, stroking her grey hair, 
Shall almost melt the hoarfrost there, 
Wee lips shall kiss away the care 

From Poor Old Gran ! 

So come and sit beside our hearth, 

Poor Old Gran ! 
Come from the darkness and the dearth, 



88 NEWS OF CHRISTIE. — LITTLE WILLIE. 

Poor Old Gran ! 
And you shall be our fireside guest, 
And weary heart and head shall rest ; 
And may your last days be your best, 

Our Poor Old Gran. 



NEWS OF CHRISTIE. 

We read your Letters ! no word lost ; 

All, all is remembered ; 
And often when there comes no Post, 

Once more are the old ones read. 

Of all she did Ave love to hear, 
And how the days have sped ; 

But to our listening hearts most dear 
Is something " Christie said." 



LITTLE WILLIE. 

Poor little Willie, 

With his many pretty wiles ; 
Worlds of wisdom in his looks, 

And quaint, quiet smiles ; 
Hair of amber, toucht with 

Gold of heaven so brave ; 
All lying darkly hid 

In a Workhouse Grave. 

You remember little Willie ; 

Fair and funny fellow ! he 
Sprang like a lily 

From the dirt of poverty. 



LITTLE WILLIE. 89 

Poor little Willie ! 

Not a friend was nigh, 
When, from the cold world, 

He croueht down to die. 

In the day we wandered foodless, 

Little Willie cried for bread ; 
In the night Ave wandered homeless, 

Little Willie cried for bed. 
Parted at the Workhouse door, 

Not a word we said : 
Ah, so tired was poor Willie, 

And so sweetly sleep the dead. 

'T was in the dead of winter 

We laid him in the earth ; 
The world brought in the New Year, 

On a tide of mirth. 
But, for lost little Willie, 

Not a tear we crave ; 
Cold and Hunger cannot wake him, 

In his Workhouse Grave. 

We thought him beautiful, 

Felt it hard to part ; 
We loved him dutiful ; 

Down, down, poor heart ! 
The storms they may beat ; 

The winter winds may rave ; 
Little Willie feels not, 

In his Workhouse Grave. 

No room for little Willie ; 

In the world he had no part ; 
On him stared the Gorgon-eye, 

Thro' which looks no heart. 
Come to me, said Heaven ; 

And, if Heaven will save, 
Little matters though the door 

Be a Workhouse Grave. 



90 Christie's portrait. 



CHRISTIE'S PORTRAIT. 

i. 
Your tiny picture makes rne yearn ; 

We are so tar apart ! 
My Darling, I can only turn 

And kiss you in my heart. 
A thousand tender thoughts a-wing 

Swarm in a summer clime, * 
And hover round it murmuring 

Like bees at honey-time 



Upon a little girl I look 

Whose pureness makes me sad ; 
I read as in a holy book, 

I grow in secret glad ! 
It seems my darling comes to me 

With something I have lost 
Over life's tossed and troubled sea, 

On some celestial coast. 

III. 

I think of her when spirit-bowed ; 

A glory fills the place ! 
Like sudden light on swords, the proud 

Smile flashes in my face : 
And others see, in passing by, 

But cannot understand 
The vision shining in mine eye, 

My strength of heart and hand. 

IV. 

That grave content and touching grace, 
Bring tears into mine eyes ; 

She makes my heart a holy place 
Where hymns and incense rise ! 



Christie's portrait. 91 

Such calm her gentle spirit brings 

As — smiling overhead — 
White statued saints with peaceful wings 

Shadow the sleeping dead. 

v. 

Our Christie is no rosy Grace 

With beauty all may see 
But I have never felt a face 

Grow half so dear to me. 
No curling hair about her brows, 

Like many merry girls ; 
Well, straighter to my heart it goes 

And round it curls and curls. 

VI. 

Meek as the wood anemone glints 

To see if heaven be blue, 
Is my pale flower with her sweet tints 

Of heaven shining thro' ! 
She will be poor and never fret, 

Sleep sound and lowly lie ; 
Will live her quiet life, and let 

The great world-storm go by. 

VII. 

Dear love ! God keep Her in His grasp, 

Meek maiden, or brave Wife ! 
Till His good Angels softly clasp 

Her closed book of life ; 
And this fair picture of the Sun, 

With birthday blessings given, 
Shall fade before a glorious one 

Taken of her in heaven. 



92 MY MAID MARIAN. 



MY MAID MARIAN. 

i. 
Spring comes with violet eyes unveiled, 

Her fragrant lips apart ! 
And Earth smiles up as tho' she held 

Most honeyed thoughts at heart. 
But nevermore will Spring arise 
Dancing in sparkles of her eyes. 

II, 

A gracious wind low-breathing comes 

As from the fields of God ; 
The old lost Eden newly blooms 

From out the sunny sod. 
My buried joy stirs with the earth, 
And tries to sun its sweetness forth. 



The trees move in their slumbering, 
Dreaming of one that's near ! 

Put out their feelers for the Spring, 
To wake, and find her here ! 

My spirit on the threshold stands, 

And stretches out its waiting hands ; 

IV. 

Then goeth from me in a stream 
Of yearning ; wave on wave 

Slides thro' the stillness of a dream, 
To little Marian's grave : 

For all the miracle of Spring • 

My long lost child will never bring. 



Where blooms the golden crocus-burst, 
And Winter's tenderling, 



MY MAID MARIAN. 93 

There lies our little Snowdrop ! first 

Of Flowers in our love's spring ! 
How all the year's young beauties blow 
About her there, I know, I know. 

VI. 

The Blackbird with his warble wet, 

The Thrush with reedy thrill, 
Open their hearts to Spring, and let 

The influence have its will ! 
Tho' all around the Spring hath smiled, 
She seems to have kissed where lies my child. 

VII. 

In purple shadow and golden shine 

Old Arthur's Seat is crowned ; 
Like shapes of Silence crystalline 

The great white clouds sail round ! 
The Dead at rest the long day thro' 
Lie calm against the pictured blue. 

VIII. 

Thro' shutting Eve the stars may peep, 

But still there comes no night ; 
Only the Day hath fallen asleep, 

And smiles in dreams of light: 
As tho' she felt the heart of Love 
Beating in silent stars above. 

IX. 

O Marian, my maid Marian, 

So strange it seems to me ! 
That you, the Household's darling one 

So soon should cease to be. 
Ah, was it that our praying breath 
Might kindle heavenward fires of faith ? 



So much forgiven for your sake 
When bitter words were said, 



94 MY MAID MARIAN. 

And little arms about the neck 

With blessings bowed the head ! 
So happy as we might have been, 
Our hearts more close with you between. 

XI. 

Dear early Dew-drop ! such a gleam 

Of sun from heaven you drew, 
We little thought that smiling beam 

Would drink our precious dew ! 
But back to heaven our dew was kissed, 
We saw it pass in mournful mist. 

XII. 

Our lowly home was lofty-crowned 

With three sweet budding girls ! 
Our sacred marriage-ring set round 

With darling wee love-pearls ! 
One jewel from the ring is gone, 
One fills a grave in Warriston. 

XIII. 

We bore her beauty in our breast, 

As heaven bears the Dawn, 
We brooded over her dear nest, 

Still close and closer drawn. 
Hearts thrilled and listened, watched and throbbed, 
And strayed not, — yet the nest was robbed ! 

XIV. 

11 Stay yet a little while, Beloved ! " 

In vain our prayerful breath ! 
Across heaven's lighted window moved 

The shadow of black Death. 
In vain our hands were stretched to save, 
There closed the gateways of the Grave ! 

XV. 

Could my death-vision have darkened up 
In her sweet face, my child ; 



MY MAID MARIAN. 95 

I scarce should see the bitter cup 
I could have drank and smiled : 
Blessing; her with my last-wrung breath, 
Dear Angel in my dream of death. 



Her memory is like music we 

Have heard some singers sing, 
That thrills life thro', and echoingly 



We try it o'er and o'er again, 

But ne'er recall that wondrous strain. 

XVII. 

My proud heart like a river runs, 

Lying awake o' nights ; 
I see her with the shining Ones 

Upon the shining heights. 
And a wee Angel-face will peep 
Down starlike thro' the veil of sleep. 

XVIII. 

My yearnings try to get them wings 

And float me up afar, 
As in the Dawn the sky-lark springs 

To reach some distant Star 
That all night long swam down to him 
In brightness, but at morn grew dim. 

XIX. 

She is a spirit of light that leavens 
The darkness where we wait ; 

And starlike opens in the heavens 
A little golden gate ! 

O may we wake and find her near 

When work and sleep are over here ! 

xx. 

No sweetness to this world of ours 
Is without purpose given, 



96 MY MAID MARIAX. 

The fragrance that goes up from flowers 

May be their seed in Heaven. 
We saw Heaven in her face, may we 
Her future face in Heaven see. 

XXI. 

In some far spring of brighter bloom, 
More life, and ampler breath, 

My bud hath burst the folding gloom, 
A-flower from dusty death ! 

We wonder will she be much grown ? 

And how will her new name be known ? 

XXII. 

I saw her ribboned robe this morn, 

Mine own lost little child ; 
Wee shoes her tiny feet had worn, 

And then my heart grew wild. 
We only trust our hearts to peep 
In on them when we want to weep. 

XXIII. 

But hearts will break or eyes must weep, 

And so we bend above 
These treasures of old days that keep 

The fragrance of young love. 
The harvest-field tho' reapt and bare 
Will find a patient gleaner there. 

XXIV. 

I never think of her sweet eyes 

In dusky death now dim, 
But waters of my heart will rise, 

And there they smile and swim, 
Forget-me-nots so blue, so dear, 
Swim in the waters of a tear. 



How often in the days gone by 
She lifted her dear head, 



MY MAID MARIAN. 97 

And stretcht wee arms for me to he 

Down in her little bed. 
And cradled in my happy breast 
Was softly carried into rest. 

XXVI. 

And now when life is sore oppressed 

And runs with weary wave, 
I long to lay me down and rest 

In little Marian's grave. 
To smile as peaceful as she smiled — 
For I am now the nestling child. 

XXVII. 

Immortal Love, a spirit of bliss 

And brightness, moves above, 
While here forever Sorrow is 

The shadow cast by Love. 
But love for her no sorrow will bring 
And no more tearful leaves-taking. 

XXVIII. 
No passing sorrows on their march 

Will leave sad foot-prints now, 
No troubles strain the tender arch 

Of that white baby brow. 
No cares to cloud, no tears that come 
To rob the cheelt of pearly bloom. 

XXIX. 

All sweetest shapes that Beauty wears 

Are round about her drawn ; 
Auroral bloom, and vernal airs, 

And blessings of the dawn ; 
All loveliness that ne'er grows less ; 
Time cannot touch her tenderness. 

XXX. 

One sparkle of immortal light 
Our love for her shall shine 

7 



98 robin's song. 

In that dew-drop that nestles white 

At heart with gleam divine, 
But vanishes from Death's cold clasp, 
When he the flower of life doth grasp. 

XXXI. 

The patient calm that comes with yeara, 
Hath made us cease to fret, 

Tho' sometimes in the sudden tears 
Dumb hearts will quiver yet. 

And each one turns the face, and tries 

To hide Who looks thro' parent eyes. 



ROBIN'S SONG. 

Sing, Robin Redbreast, 

Tho' yon fill our hearts with pain ; 
Sing, bonny Robin, 

Tho' our tears fall like the- rain 
For a La"mb tar from the fold, 
In the wet and wintry mould ! 
For a Bird out in the cold, 
Bird alane ! Bird alane ! 

Sing, Robin Redbreast ! 

You are welcome to our door ; 
Sing, darling Robin, 

Merry Larks no longer soar. 
Autumn conies with feel of rain, 
Mournful odours, wail of pain ! 
There's a Bird will come again 
Nevermore ! Nevermore ! 

Sing, Robin Redbreast ! 

For we love your song so brave, 



THE MAIDEN MARRIAGE. 99 

Tho' you mind us of a Robin 

Where the willows weep and wave 
To her little grave it clings, 
Shakes the rain from its wet wings, 
And for all the sadness sinus 

By Her grave, by Her grave. 



THE MAIDEN MARRIAGE. 

She sat in her virgin bower 

Half sad with fancies sweet, 
And wist not Love drew softly nigh, 

Till she nestled at his feet. 
" Arise, arise, thou fair Maiden ! 

And adieu, adieu, thou dear ! 
But meet me, meet me at the Kirk, 

In the May-time of the year." 

Up in her face of holy grace 

The startled splendour broke ; 
Her smile was as a dream of Heaven 

Fulfilled whene'er she spoke. 
She felt such bliss in her beauty 

And pleasure in her power 
To richly clothe her perfect love 

For a peerless marriage dower. 

" Now kiss me, kiss me, Mother dear ; 

He calls me, I must go ! " 
She went to the Kirk at tryste-time, 

In raiment like the snow. 
But he who claspt her there was Death ; 

And he hath led her where 
No voice is heard, there is no breath, 

Upon the frosty air. 



100 NOT LOST, BUT GONE BEFORE. 



NOT LOST, BUT GONE BEFORE. 

One of God's own Darlings was my bosom's nes- 
tling Dove, 
With her looks of love and sunshine, and her 
voice so rich and low : 
How it trembled thro' my life, like an Immortal's 
kiss of love ! 
How its music yearns thro' all my memory 
now ! 

O ! her beauty rainbows round me, and her sweet 
smile, silverly 
As a song, fills all the silence of the Midnight's 
charmed hours ; 
And I know from out her grave she '11 send her 
love in death to me, 
By the Spring in smiling utterance of Flow- 
ers. 

O! my Love, too good for Earth, has gone into 
the land of light ; 
'T was hard, she said, to leave me, but the Lord 
had need of her ; 
And she walks the heavens in glory like a Star i' 
the crown of Night, 
With the Beautiful and Blessed mingling 
there. 

Gone before me, to be clothed on with bridal robe 
of white, 
Where Love's blossom flowers to fruit, and suf- 
fering 's glorified ! 
And my love shall make me meet and worthy of 
her presence bright, 
That in heaven I may claim her as my 
Bride. 



THE POET. 101 



THE POET. 



A vagrant Wild Flower sown by God, 

Out in the waste was born ; 
It sprang up as a Corn-flower 

In the goldea fields of Corn : 
The Corn all strong and stately 

In its bearded bravery grew — 
Gathered the gold for harvest — 

Grew ripe, in sun and dew ; 
And when it bowed th } head, — as Wind 

And Shadow ran their race, 
Like influences from Heaven 

Come to Earth, for playing place, — 
It seemed to look down on the Flower 

As in a smiling scorn, 
Poor thing ! you grow no grain for food, 

Or garner, said the Corn. 
The bonny Flower felt lonely, 

Its look grew tearful sad, 
Till came a smile of sunshine 

And its beauty grew so glad ! _ 
Ah, bonny Flower ! it bloomed its best 

Contented with its place, 
God's blessing fell upon it 

As it lookt up in His face ; 
And there they grew together 

Till the Reapers white-wing'd came — 
All their Sickles shining ! 

All their faces were a-flame ; — 
The Corn they reapt for earthly use, 

But an Angel fell in love 
With that Wild Flower and wore it 

At the Harvest-home above. 



102 LITTLE LILYBELL. 



LITTLE LILYBELL. 

When unseen fingers part the leaves, 

To show us Beauty's face ; 
And Earth her breast of glory heaves, 

And glows from Spring's embrace : 
Flowers Fairy-like on coloured wings 

Float up, — Life's sea doth swell 
And flush a world of vernal things, 

Came little Lilybell. 

And like a blessed Bird of calm 

Our love's sweet wants she stilled, 
Made Passion's fiery wine run balm, — 

Life's glory half fulfilled ! 
From dappled dawn to twinkling dark, 

Our witching Ariel 
Moves thro' our heaven ! O, like a lark 

Sings little Lilybell ! 

And she is fair — ay, very fair! 

With eyes so like the dove ; 
And lightly leans her world of care 

Upon our arms of love ! 
It cannot be that ye will break 

The promise-tale ye tell ; 
Ye will not make such fond hearts ache, 

Our little Lilybell ! 

As on Life's stream her leaflets spread, 

And tremble in its flow, 
We shudder lest the awful Dead 

Pluck at her from below ! 
Breathe faint and low, ye winds that start; 

O stream, but softly swell ; 
Your every motion smites the heart 

For little Lilybell ! 



OUR WHITE DOVE. 103 

We tremble lest the Angel Death, 

Who comes to gather flowers 
For Paradise, at her sweet breath 

Should fall in love with ours ! 
O, many a year may come and go, 

Ere from Life's mystic well 
Such stream shall flow, such flower shall blow, 

As little Lilybell ! 

Ah, when her clear heart fills with fears, 

And aches with Love's sweet pain, 
And pale cheeks burn thro' happy tears, 

Like red rose in the rain ! 
I marvel, Sweet, if we shall see 

The sight, and say 't is well, 
When the Beloved calls for thee, 

Our dainty Lilybell ! 

How rich Love made the lowly sod, 

Where such a flower hath blown ! 
O Love, we love, and think that God 

Is such a love full-grown ! 
Dear &od ! that gave the blessed trust, 

Be near, that all be well ; 
And morn and eve bedew our dust, 

For love of Lilybell ! 



OUR WHITE DOVE. 

A white Dove out of heaven flew, 
White as the whitest shape of Grace 
That nestles in the soft embrace 

Of heaven when skies are summer blue 

It came with dew-drop purity, 

On glad wings of the morning light, 
And sank into our life, so white 

A Vision ! sweetly, secretly ! 



104 OUIt WHITE DOVE. 

Silently nestled oar white Dove : 
Balmily made our bosoms swim 
With still delight, and overbrim ; 

The air it breathed was breath of love : 

Our Dove had eyes of Baby blue, 
Soft as the speedwell's by the way, 
That looketh up as it would say, 

" Who kissed me while 1 slept, did you ? " 

God love it ! but we took our Bird, 
And lovefl it well, and merry made ; 
We sang and danced around, or prayed 

In silence, wherein hearts are heard. 

It seemed to come from far green fields 
To meet us over life's rough sea, 
With leaf of promise from the tree 

In which a dearer nest it builds. 

As fondling Mother birds will pull 

The softest feathers from their breast,. 
We gave our best to line the nest 

And make it warm and beautiful ! 

We held it as the leaves of life 
In hidden silent service fold 
About a Hose's heart of gold, 

So jealous of all outer strife ! 

When holy sleep in soothing palms 
Pillowed the darling little head, 
How lightly moved we round the bed, 

And felt the silence fall in balms ! 

But all we did or tried to do, 
Our flood of joy it never felt ; 
Only into our hearts would melt 

Still deeper those dove-eyes of blue. 






OUR WHITE DOVE. 105 

Quick with the spirit of field and wood, 
All other Birds would sing and sing 
Till hearts did ripple and homes did ring : 

Our white Dove only cooed and cooed — 

With every day some sweetness iiew,^ 
And night and day and day and night 
It was the voice of our delight, 

That gentle, low, endearing coo ! 

God ! if we were to lose our child ! 

O, we must die, poor hearts would cry : 

She lookt on us so hushingly ; 
So mournfully to herself she smiled. 

One day she pined up in our face 
With a low cry we could not still, 
A moaning we could never heal, 

For sleep in some more quiet place. 

We could not help and yet must see 

The little head droop wearily, 

The little eyes shine eerily, 
My Dove ! what have they done to thee ? 

The look grew pleading in her eyes, 
And mournful as the lonesome light 
That in a window burns all night, 

Asking for stillness, while one dies. 

The hand of Death so coldly clings, 
So strongly draws the weak life-wave 
Into bia dark, vast, silent cave ; 

Our little Dove must use its wings ! 

And so it sought the dearer nest ; 

A little way across the sea 

It kept us winged company, 
Then sank into its leafier rest. 



106 OUR WHITE DOVE. 

And left us long ago to feel 

A sadness in the sweetest words, 

A broken heartstring mid the chords 

A tone more tremulous when we kneel. 

But, dear my Christie, do not cry, 
Our White Dove left for you and me 
Such blessed promise as must be 

Perfected in the heavens high. 

The stars that shone in her dear eyes 
May be a little while withdrawn 
To rise and lead the eternal dawn 

For us, up heaven in other skies. 

Our Bird of God but soars and sings : 
Oft when life's heaving wave's at rest, 
She makes her mirror in my breast, 

I feel a winnowing of wings. 

And meekly doth she minister 

Glad thoughts of comfort, thrills of pride ; 

She makes me feel that if I died 
This moment I should go to her. 

Be good ! and you shall find her where 
No wind can shake the wee bird's nest; 
No dreams can break the wee bird's rest; 

No night, no pain, no parting there ! 

No echoes of old storms gone by ! 

Earth's sorrows slumber peacefully ; 

The weary are at rest, and He 
Shall wipe the tears from every eye. 



OUR LITTLE CHILD, ETC. 107 



OUR LITTLE CHILD WITH RADIANT 
EYES. 

With seeking hearts we still grope on, 
Where dropt our jewel in the dust : 

The looking crowd have long since gone, 
And still we seek with lonely trust : 
O little Child with radiant eyes ! 

In all our heart-ache we are drawn, 

Unweeting, to your little grave ; 
There, on your heavenly shores of dawn, 

Breaks gentlier Sorrow's sobbing wave : 

O little Child with radiant eyes ! 

Dark underneath the brightening sod, 

The sweetest life of all our years 
Is crowded in ae gift to God. 

Outside the gate we stand in tears ! 

O little Child with radiant eyes ! 

Heart-empty as the acorn-cup 

That only fills with wintry showers, 

The breaking cloud but brimmeth up 
With tears this pleading life of ours. 
O little Child with radiant eyes ! 

We think of you, our Angel kith, 

Till life grows light with starry leaven: 

We never forget you, Darling with 
The gold hair waving high in heaven ! 
Our tittle Child with radiant eves ! 

Your white wings grown you will conquer Death! 
You are coming through our dreams even now, 
With azure peep of heaven beneath 






108 THE SUNBEAM AND THE ROSE. 

The arching glory of your brow, 
Our little Child with radiant eyes ! 

We cannot pierce the dark, but oft 

You see us with looks of pitying balm ; 

A hint of heaven — a touch more soft 
Than kisses — all the trouble is calm. 
Our little Child with radiant eyes ! 

Think of us wearied in the strife, 

And when we sit by Sorrow's streams, 

Shake down upon our drooping life 
The dew that brings immortal dreams. 
Our little Child with radiant eyes ! 



THE SUNBEAM AND THE ROSE. 

" Pretty Rosebud, are thy emerald 

Curtains still undrawn ? 
Odalisque of Flowers, — 

Tender soul o' the fervid South ! 
I am dainty of thy beauty, 

All this dewy dawn ; 
I am fainting for the ruddy 

Kisses of thy mouth." 

Sweetly sang the Sunbeam, 

With a voice made low to win ; 
Round the Rose-heart playing, 

Till it toucht the tenderest strings ; 
" Pretty Rosebud, ope thy lattice, 

Let thy true love in." 
And for Heaven down-wavering warm, 

She waved her leafy wings ! 
Listen, Christie, to my song o' the Sun 
beam and the rose. 



CRAIGCROOK ROSES. 109 

Out she sprang, kiss-coloured, 

In her eyes the dews of bliss ; 
All her beauty glowing 

With a blush of bridal light ! 
Gave her balm and bloom for banquet 

To the golden kiss ; 
Proudly oped each chamber 

For a princelier delight. 

Soon the Serpent of Sweetness, 

Sated, could no longer stay ; 
And away he went, a- wooing 

Every flower that blows ! 
'T was the reign of Roses 

When that Sunbeam passed to-day : 
Lonely in her rifled ruin 

Droopt the dying Rose. 
Listen, Christie, to my song o' the Sun- 
beam and the Rose. 



CRAIGCROOK ROSES. 

Craigcrook Roses ! red and golden, 
All a-glowing ; faint with passion ; 

To the sweet flower-soul unfolden : 

Wreathe me in the old Greek fashion. 

Queen of sweetness, crowned with splendour, 
Every rich round bud uncloses ; 

Yet so meek and womanly tender 
Are you royal Craigcrook Roses, ' 
Warm and winy Craigcrook Roses. 

Leaning with some unknown yearning, 
You would make a lover sin, you 

Pretty wooers, archly turning 

Asyou climb to make us win you. 



110 THE SINGER. 

Ripe perfection of fair fulness 
In your gracious bloom reposes ; 

And an emerald bower for coolness, 
Summer builds my Craigcrook Roses, 
Amorous-dreaming Craigcrook Roses. 

When the year is old and hoary, 
And the day is dark with dolours; 

Still you come, my guests of glory, 
In voluptuous dance of colours. 

And — tho' Earth like Age is toiling 
In the snow-drifts — perfumed posies 

Kiss me, crown my spirit smiling 
Down a dream of Craigcrook Roses, 
Dear, delicious Craigcrook Roses. 

Fairest of Light's daughters seven, 
With your dainty dreamy graces; 

You might light with loving leaven 
Smiles of spring in wintriest faces 

At the solemn shut of daylight 
When the fair life-vision closes ; 

May my spirit float away light • 
On a cloud of Craigcrook Roses, 
Cooled and crowned with Craigcrook Roses 



THE SINGER. 

Up out of the Corn the Lark caroll'd in light, 
Like a new splendour sprung from the dark husk 

of Night, 
Green light shimmer'd laughing o'er forest and sod ; 
The rich sky was full of the presence of God, 
And with brave careless rapture he lavisht around 
Rare violet fancies and rose-leaves of sound : 
All thro' the Morn's sun city sea-like his psalm 



A MAIDENS SONG. Ill 

With melodious waves dasht the bright world of 

calm : 
But heavily hung the droopt ears of the 

Corn : 
They were gathering gold in the dewy 

Morn. 



fed, 
Till his heart's merry wine had made drunken his 

head. 
How he sang ! as his honey in Life's cells ne'er 

dwindled, 
And bon-fires of Joy on all Life's hills were kin- 
dled : 
O ! he sang, as he felt that to singing was given 
The magic to build rainbow-stairways to heaven ! 
And he could not have sung with more lusty cheer, 
Had all the world listened a-tiptoe to hear ! 
All the while heavily hung the Corn, 
And its drowsy ears heard not the Sweet- 
heart op Morn. 



A MAIDEN'S SONG. 

I love ! and Love hath given me 
Sweet thoughts to God akin, 

And oped a living Paradise 

My heart of hearts within : 

from this Eden of my life 

God keep the Serpent Sin ! 

1 love ! and into Angel-land 

With starry glimpses peer ! 

I drink in beauty like heaven-wine, 

When One is smiling near ! 



112 POOR BIDDY. 

And there's a Rainbow round my soul 
For every falling tear. 

Dear God in heaven ! keep without stain 
My bosom's brooding Dove : 

O clothe it meet for angel-arms, 
And give it place above ! 

For there is nothing from the world 
I yearn to take, but Love. 



POOR BIDDY. 

Poor Biddy was peculiarly proud, 
And often passed along the public road 
Riding a Stick : She would have been a witch 
In the old days, and weirdily filled her niche. 

The mocking Bairns would cry, as she would stalk, 
" Biddy, you might as well on two legs walk ; " 
And she would say, says she, the poor daftling ' 
" 1 might ! but for the grandeur of the thing." 

Alas, how many pitiful tricks we play 
Like Biddy, in less Natural kind o' way : 
And ride our stick, and have our foolish fling, 
God help us ! for the grandeur of the thing. 



WHEN CHRISTIE COMES AGAIN. 113 



WHEN CHRISTIE COMES AGAIN. 

When the merry spring-tide 

Floods all the land ; 
Nature hath a Mother's heart, 

Gives with open hand ; 
Flowers running up the lane 

Tell us May is near. 
Christie will be coming then ! 

Christie will be here ! 
O the merry spring-tide ! 

We '11 be glad in sun or rain, 
In the merry, merry days 

When Christie comes again. 

Pure is her meek nature, 

Clear as morning dew, 
We can see the Angel 

Almost shining through ; 
To Earth's sweetest blessing 

She the best from Heaven did bring ; 
Good Genius of our Love-lamp ! 

Fine Spirit of the Ring ! 
O the merry spring-tide ! 

We'll be glad in sun or rain, 
In the merry, merry days 

When Christie comes again. 

All our joys we'll tell her, 

But for her dear sake, 
Not a word of Sorrow, 

Lest her little heart would ache. 
She shall dance and swing and sing, 

Do as she likes best ; 
Only I must have her hand 

In ramble or in rest. 
8 



114 WHEN CHRISTIE COMES AGAIN. 

the merry spring-tide ! 

We '11 be glad in sun or rain, 
In the merry, merry days 

When Christie comes again. 

We '11 romp in jewelled meadows, 

Hunt in dingles cool with leaves, 
Where all night the Nightingale 

Melodiously grieves. 
In her cheek so tender 

The shy and dainty rose, 
Shall gaily come for kisses, 

To every wind that blows. 
O the merry spring-tide ! 

We '11 be glad in sun or rain, 
In the merry, merry days 

When Christie comes again. 

Hope will lay so many eggs 

In her little nest ; 
Don't your heart run over, 

Christie, in your breast ? 
Thinking how we'll greet you, 

Safe once more at home, 
Ours will run to meet you, 

Often ere you come. 
O the merry spring-tide ! 

We '11 be glad in sun or rain, 
In the merry, merry days 

When Christie comes again. 

O the joy in our house, 

Hearts dancing wild ! 
Christie will be coming soon, 

She 's our darling child. 
Holy dew of heaven 

In each eyelid starts, 
Feeling all her dearness, 

Darling of all hearts. 



WHEN CHRISTIE COMES AGAIN. 115 

O the merry spring-tide ! 

We'll be glad in sun or rain, 
In the merry, merry days 

When Christie comes again. 

Dreary was our winter ; 

Come ! and all the place 
Shall breath a summer sweetness, 

And wear a happy face; 
There will be a sun-smile 

On stern, old Calaby, 
Tender as the spring-gold 

On our old Oak-Tree ! 
O the merry spring-tide ! 

We '11 be glad in sun or rain, 
In the merry, merry days 

When Christie comes again. 

Jack, the Dog, will run before, 

First to reach the Kail ; 
Jack, the Pony, whisk you home, 

With long trotting tail ! 
We have had our struggles, dear, 

But could n't part with Jack ; 
We shall all be waiting there, 

To welcome Christie back ! 
O the merry spring-tide ! 

We '11 be glad in sun or rain, 
In the merry, merry days 

When Christie comes again. 

Then blow you Winds, and shake up 

The sleeping flower-beds ! 
Make the Violets wake up, 

The Daisies lift their heads ; 
The Lilacs float in fragrance, 

Dim-purple, saintly-white ! 
And bring the bonny bairn to us, 

The flower of our delight. 



116 WHEN CHRISTIE COMES AGAIN. 

O the merry spring-tide! 

We'll be glad in sun or rain, 
In the merry, merry days 

When Christie comes again. 



ONLY A DREAM. 



ONLY A DREAM. 

The silvery veil of Sleep came trembling down 

Like sweet snow white and warm in a silent world, 

And softly covered up the face of life. 

The nurse-like Spirit laid my body to rest, 

And went to meet her Bridegroom in the night, 

Who comes like music o'er the star-shored sea, 

And clasps her at the portal with a kiss. 

When lo, a hand reacht thro' the dark, and drew 

Her gliding wraith-like on, and looking up 

The unfeatured gloom grew into Charmian's face. 

I read her look, and we two wandered forth 

In the cool glory of the glimmering night : 

The Earth lay faint with love at the feet of Heaven : 

Her breath of incense went up thro' the leaves 

In a lown sough of bliss. Warm winds on tiptoe 

Walkt over the tall tree-tops. Above us burned 

The golden legends on Night's prophet-brow ; 

The Moon rose o'er the city, a glory of gold ; 

Around us Life rehearst Death's mystery. 

And Charmian wore her June-like loveliness 

As in a stole of sorrow ; by day she moved 

In some serene elysium; queenly sweet, 

And gracious ; breathing beauty ; a heaven of 

dreams 
In her large lotus eyes, darkly divine : 
Warm-winged Ardours plumed her parted lips. 
But now her blooming Life's luxuriant flower 
Seemed withered into ashen spirit-fruit, 
And like a spirit flasht her white, lit face ! 
Portentous things which hid themselves by day, 
Sweet-shadowed 'neath her sunning beauty-bloom, 
Came peering thro' the dim and sorrowy night. 



120 ONLY A DREAM. 

Her lips, red-ripe to crush their fire-strong wine, 

Pouting persuasive, in perpetual kiss, 

Were thin with anguish, bitter with pale pain. 

And from the windows whence young Beauty lauglit 

As Age went by, a life of suffering lookt, 

And perisht visions flasht their phantom light. 

White waves of sea-like soul had climbed, and dasht 

The red light from its heaven of her cheek. 

Her bounteous breast that breathed magnificence, 

And billowed with proud blood, sighed meekly now. 

The flowers her Spartan spirit crowned her with 

For the life-battle, dropt about her dead. 

Diaphanous in the moonlight grew her life 

With all its written agony visible ; 

Down the dark deep of her great grief I stared, 

And saw the Wreck with all its dead around. 

And my heart melted in its mournfulness ; 

She moaned, as hers were breaking in its pain; 

And then her voice vibrated piteous as 

A Spirit wailing in a world of tears, 

But stifled half its pathos not to hurt. 

" Earth sleepeth in the moonlight's mystic grace, 
The breath of blessings round her ; and all heaven 
Is passing thro' her dream ; it trembles near ; 
She feels the Seraph-kisses on her face ; 
But she will wake at morn in tears to find 
The glory gone — all was a dream o' the night. 
And thus my young Life slumbered, dreamed, and 
woke ! 

"It ran in shadow like the woodland brook, 

Feeling its way, with yearnings for the light, 

Until it surges flashing in the sun, 

And takes a crown of radiance on its head. 

Even so I found him whom my soul had sought, 

And fled into his breast with a cry of triumph, 

Who lit up all things beautiful for me. 

And thro' my happy tears there lookt in mine 



ONLY A DREAM. 121 

A face as sweet as morning violets, 

A face alight with love ineffable, 

The starry heart-hid wonder trembling through: 

And o'er me leaned, — as Spring-heaven over earth, 

Dropping her love down in a rain of flowers, — 

To feed me with all flowers of delight, 

And crown me as his queen of all delight. 

Light hung a garland grace about his brow ; 

His voice, like footprints in the yielding snow, 

Sank deepest with its softest fall of words. 

He gave the casket of his happiness 

Rich with Love's jewel for ray hands to keep. 

Around his stalwart beauty twined my life, 

In golden oneness, and in proud repose ; 

And like a God he claspt me with his strength ! 

And like a God he held me in his heaven j 

And all the air was golden with my God. 

" Alas, that Woman's life divorced from Man's, 
And seeking to be one again in love, 
So often flies back thro' the grim wide wound ! 
Alas, that Time should crown with fruit of pain, 
That seed from Eden whose fair flower is love ! 
They tore me from my Love ! they thrust him forth, 
Spurned his rich love, and scorned his poverty ; 
Rent all the twining tendrils of my life 
To shrink back bleeding in their desolate home. 
My heart was shivered like the charmed cup 
That, breaking, brings the Hall in ruins round; 
And every fragment mirrored the great wrong ! 

" And while my mind yet wandered dark and dumb, 

They sold me to a Worldling wrinkled, rich 

And rotten, who bought Love's sweet name for 

gold. 
They drest me in bride-flowers who should have 

worn 
The white and wimpled weeds of widowhood, 
And led me forth, a jewelled mockery ! 



122 ONLY A DREAM. 

'Twas like a wedding with the sheeted dead, 
In silent hurry, and white ghastliness. 
No bosoms beat, Love's cymbals musie-matcht ; 
No blisses blusht, no bridal-kisses burned. 
The ring was on my hand, few saw the chain 
By which my Husband drew me to his home, 
And many envied me my happiness. 
That night as we sat alone I felt his eyes 
Burningly brand me to the core, his Slave. 

" I dwelt amid a wildering world of wealth, 
Which flamed a glistering glory, bloomed a warmth 
Without, within was cold as a fireless hearth. 
The Image "of Nuptial Love to which they led me 
A maiden sacrifice i' the Sanctuary, 
That should have raised me, smiled my tears away, 
And into quickness all my coldness kist, 
And fed with precious oil the lamp of love 
That in my heart, as in a tomb, burned on, 
Was a gaunt Skeleton whose grave-like arms 
Claspt me for ever to a loveless breast. 

" He was a cruel Tyrant, just too mean 

To murder, altho' pitiless as the grave ; 

A human ink-fish spreading clouds around 

When eyes of tender ruth would come too near. 

He had a thm-lipt lust of power which lookt 

On torture in no rage of fiery blood, 

But with infernal light of gloating eyes. 

And yet I strove to love him. O my God ! 

While reaching from the heights of blessedness, 

To pluck the rainbow-fruit Heaven held to me, 

How had I fallen into a chasm that closed 

Its dark inevitable arms, and crusht 

Me, bruised and blind ! I struck, and struck, and 

beat 
With bleeding strength, in vain. A hundred hands 
Fought in the gloom with mine as water weak. 
At every step there stirred some hissing snake. 



ONLY A DREAM. 123 

I felt as one that's bound, and buried alive ; 
The black, dank death-mould stampt down over- 
head, 
And cried, and cried, and cried, but no help came. 

" I heard the sounds above me far away ; 

The feet of hurrying Life, and loitering- Love ; 

Rich bursts of music, ham of low, sweet talk; 

The dance of Pleasure dancing in her heaven, 

And rustling rain of a thousand dear delights. 

I knew the pictured world was lighted up, 

And bloomed, like bridal-chamber, soft and warm : 

How sang the merry, merry birds of bliss ; 

How Beauty's flower-guests stood crowned and 

drank 
The health of Heaven in its own brave wine. 
But not a crumb of all the glad life-feast, 
Nor drop of all the wanton wealth for me, 
And if I stretcht weak arms to clasp my world, 
A wormy mouth to my wild warmth was prest, 
And if I turned to lift a prayer to God, 
Above me burned two eyes like bottomless pits 
In which a nest of devils lurk and leer. 
And down my night there stoopt no smiling heaven, 
With golden chances of a starry throne, 
And beckoning looks that bid us come be crowned. 

" Around me rose the phantoms of the dark, 

The Grave's Sonmambules troubled in their dream, 

Who walk and wander in the sleep of Death, 

And cannot rest, they were so wronged in life. 

The crownless Martyrs of the marriage-ring ! 

Meek sufferers who walkt in living hell, 

And died a life of spiritual suttee. 

They came to claim their kin in misery, 

And show me, as they passed in shadowy train, 

Their symbols of unutterable woe, — 

Scarred loves that bore the rack and told no tale ; 

Tear-drowned hearts and stifled agonies ; 



124 ONLY A DREAM. 

The bleeding lips struck dumb by brutal hands ; 
Slow murders of the curtained bridal-bed ; 
The silent tortures and the shrouded deaths. 

" I wandered with them in the pitiless night 
Who seek the jewel fallen from Life's crown ; 
Oft stumbling, bled upon the cruel thorns, 
But rose, and struggled on. I strained mine eyes 
Upon the dark, and raised mine empty cup ; 
Surely with one gold drop of honey-dew, 
Somewhere the heavens ran o'er t' enrich my life ? 

" Then came to me a thing most sweet and strange, 

As tho' an angel kist me m the night, 

Or Magic Rose flusht sudden in the gloom. 

A loosening charm wrought in my brain ; the 

weight 
That ached to be dasht out in utter death, 
Was melting like a wintry clod in flowers. 
In love's dead ashes burst a spark. I cried, 
' O sweet light-bringer, in a bloom of dawn 
Rise, let me see what treasure I have found ! 
My rich, warm jewel, crimson with sweet life, 
Come shine where now I cross but empty palms, 
And clasp the new love-raiment radiant round. 
My little Bird shall hurry out the night, 
Till all my world is toucht with rosy gold : 
My little Bird of God shall sit and sing 
The dear day long, the dearer for the dark ! 

" ' If thou rise beautiful from Sorrow's sea, 
As Venice, Sorrow's Child, is Beauty's Queen, 
Perchance thy little smiles, my Babe, may bring 
Some human softness in his face, and I 
Shall press the hand that hurts, for thy dear sake. 
And 1 shall walk with thee, my Child, with thee, 
Beneath new heavens, on an enchanted earth. 
When I enfold thee in my arms, sweet Babe, 
My heart will scarcely breathe lest it should wake 



ONLY A DREAM. 125 

The sleeping wings of its new-nestling bliss. 
When thou art born, my Child, all will be well; 
For surely Love but vanisht in the dark 
To come back in the morning with my Babe; 
And all the sweetness liveth on when all 
The bitterness is past ; and eyes that yearn 
Wet thro' the gloom are glorified at last. 
Soft baby-fingers feeling round my heart 
Shall melt its frost ; and baby-lip's shall draw 
My tears in milk, and suck my sorrows dry. 
All hell may wrestle in one human heart ; 
All heaven will nestle in my drop of dew.' 

" It came, my dazzling dawn's re-orient hope ! 
My tiny babe, with its sweet mournful eyes ! 
And the pale innocent but fanned his hate 
To frenzy ; for, in many a desolate day, 
And midnight, lying with my heart awake, 
I had turned tearfully to look upon 
A precious picture worn by Memory, 
And in its beauteous image grew my Babe : 
Its luminous look had gathered all the light 
That lost beloved Presence left with me. 

" He poured his poison in the brimming glass 

My babe-joy-bearer lifted to my lips, 

And dasht the new love-vintage in the dust. 

I ran the gauntlet of his hell tor years, 

And fell down on the threshold mad. My Child ! 

They took my Babe from me, my pleading Babe ; 

And when the pretty one pined for me, and cried, 

Straining his dim eyes for me till he died ; 

They called the Mother in to see her child 

That lay there in the little shroud with all 

Its beauty folded up for God in heaven : 

Dead ! dead ! its dear eyes closed by stranger hands. 

" Much misery hath not made my spirit meek : 
Mine agony rends the bridal-veil: 1 cry, 



126 ONLY A DREAM. 

Come see what ghastly wounds bleed hidden here 

Behold where all the Tortures of the Past ' 

Are stored by Law, and sanctified for use. 

I drag my burthen to a nation's throne, 

And pray deliverance from this Tyrant's power. 

Pity me, all good people, as ye sit 

Within the happy circle of sweet marriage. 

Loving and loved, glorying and glorified ; 

Whose love makes life so dear, that when ye die 

And sit on heavenlier heights, your eyes will search 

To find the garden where Love's fruitage grew ; 

The nest from whence your pretty nurslings flew ; 

Our old World smiling thro' its cloudy fold, 

And love it for the marriage love of old." 

She ceased, and from afar methought there came 

Across the night an echo sad and low, 

Love answering love, heart crying unto heart. 



" In the merry spring-tide when green buds start, 

Wings break from the husk of care, 
And the dead beauty blossoms again in my heart, 

As I dream of the things that were; 
The buried Past lifteth a radiant brow; 

A phantom-bark toucheth life's shore; 
And it fioateth me far from the sorrowful Now, 

Into Love's happy Nevermore. 

" She rises before me, that Darling of mine, 

Whom I lost in the world so wide ; 
come to me, come to me, let thine arms twine 

About me, my life ! my Bride ! 
Ah me ! I am breaking my heart to see 

But the Image enshrined, at its core; 
Yet Memory's sighs bring a balm to me, 

Out of Love's happy Nevermore. 

" How I poured all my life in a beaker of bliss 
For her! how I held the cup, 



ONLY A DREAM. 127 

As the leaves, though the wanton winds will kiss, 

Their tremulous dews hold up ! 
And my mind it walkt in a raiment white, 

Where starry thoughts reared a dome ; 
And the feast was spread, and the chamber alight 

For the guest that never came home. 

'' Lovely she was as the lily is white, 

When the beauty of morn it wears : 
Pure she was as the perfect light 

That haloeth happy tears. 
Hearts straightway rose from the shadow and cloud, 

Where the light of her presence kist; 
Yet over the might of the proudest she rode, 

Like Music, as she list. 

" Love, rosy clear, in her cheek's faint dyes, 

Its first sweet bloom just took; 
Love came trembling up in her eyes, 

As the stars in a happy brook: 
Dear eyes ! they were dreams of heaven, with a dance 

Of light in their deep inch gloom; 
Whence the smiling heart lookt like the golden glance 

From the pansy's purple bloom. 

" Darling of mine ! does she ever think 

Of the old-time thoughts and things? 
Darling of mine! does she come to drink 

At these wormwood spirit-springs V 
For I sometimes dream as I bend above, 

That the touch of her lip clings there, 
And the fading balm of her breath of love 

Is eloquent in the air. 

'' If we met unaware, just to ease her heart's pain, 

Would she fall on my bosom and sob? 
Or would old memories glide thro' her brain 

With never an added throb ? 
Is her pillow e'er wet in the dead night-hours ? 

When the heat of the day is o'er, 
Does she turn, like me, for a handful of flowers, 

Into Love's happy Nevermore? 

" there is no heart that loves on earth 
But may live to be loved again: 
Some other heart hath the same dear birth, 
And aches with the same sweet pain. 



128 ONLY A DREAM. 

And Love may yet come with a golden ray 

Shall lighten my life's despair: % 

But Love hath no second shaft ran slay 
The first love nestling; t 

"In the merry spring-tide when g.een buds start, 

Wings break from the husk of care, 
\nd the dead beauty blossoms again in my heart, 

As I dream of the things that were: 
The buried Past lifteth a radiant brow, 

A phantom-bark toucheth life's shore: 
And I am borne far from the sorrowful Now, 

Into Love's happy Nevermore." 



All this was but the imagery of dream ; 

For when the Morn in restless radiance rose, 

Her breath of beauty palpitating light, 

With clouds of colour smiling from the ground ; 

A sparkling ecstasy in the blue air ; 

And I with marvelling eyes had broke the seal 

Of slumber, read the letter of my Dream, 

Lo, Charmian in her summer-sumptuous beauty ! 

And oft the dimple gleamed upon her cheek, 

To vanish like a dew-drop in a rose ; 

And oft her laugh with reckless richness rung, 

And shook a shower of music-pearls around. 

I peered into the luminous dark of her eyes, 

As one might come by light of day to look 

Adown the glade where he had seen the dance 

Of weird Elves in the night, but finds no trace. 

An aspect of the Graces ! who could know 

The wreathen face that writhed in my dream ? 

But still, as in my Dream, I see her stand, 
Too living for a picture in romance, 
Telling the wild stern story of her wrongs, 
Holding the great Curse up to heaven for ever, 



ONLY A DREAM. 129 

To call God's lightning down, altho' it kill 

Her with her wedded Curse. And in my Dream 

The kings and queens of prospering love go by, 

And little heed this Martyr by the way ; 

This poor weak woman trembling 'neath her load ; 

This life fast fettered to a festering corse ; 

This love that bleeds to death at many wounds : 

This passing Tragedy of Soul within 

Our five acts of the Sense, that breaks its way 

Thro' human hearts i' the Theatre of a world. 



ENGLAND AND LOUIS NAPOLEON. 



ENGLAND AND LOUIS NAPOLEON. 

1855. 

There was. a poor old Woman once, a daughter of 
our nation, 

Before the Devil's portrait stood in ignorant adora- 
tion. 

" You 're bowing down to Satan, Ma'am," said some 
Spectator civil : 

" Ah, Sir, it 's best to be polite, for we may go to 
the Devil." 

Bow, bow, bow : 

We may go to the Devil, so it's just as well to bow. 

So England hails the Saviour of Society, and will 

tarry at 
His feet, nor see her Christ is he who sold him, 

curst Iscariot. 
By grace of God, or sleight of hand, he wears the 

royal vesture, 
And at thy throne, Divine Success ! we kneel with 

reverent gesture, 

And bow, bow, bow : 
We may go to the Devil, so it's just as well to bow. 

O when the Sun is over us, we venerate the sun- 
light ; 

But when Eclipse is over it, we venerate the dun- 
light. 

No matter what is uppermost, upon all-fours we 
revel, 



134 ENGLAND AND LOUIS NAPOLEON. 

And when Hell triumphs over heaven — conciliate 
the Devil, 

And bow, bow, bow : 
We may go to the Devil, so it 's just as well to bow. 

Ah, Louis, had you come to us despised and re- 
jected, 

You might have gone to — Coventry, unnoticed and 
neglected : 

But as you 've done one Nation so, and left another 
undone, 

We kiss you Sire at Windsor — crown you more 
than king in London, 

And bow, bow, bow : 

We may go to the Devil, so it 's just as well to bow. 

Our Idol's hands are red with blood, with blood his 

eyes are sodden, 
But we know 't is onlj^ guilty blood which he has 

spilt and trodden ! 
He wears the imperial purple now, that plotting 

prince of evil ; 
He lets us share his glory if we bow down to the 

Devil ; 

And we bow, bow, bow : 
We may go to the Devil, so it 's just as well to 

bow. 

With hand to hilt, and ear to earth, waits Revolu- 
tion, breathless, 

To catch the resurrection sound of Liberty the 
deathless ! 

We see no Danger hug us round — no Sword hang 
o'er us gory, 

While to this mocking Mirage in the sunset of our 
glory 

We bow, bow, bow : 

We may go to the Devil, so it 's just as well to 
bow. 



THE OLD FLAG. 135 

Back, back, you foolish Peoples, slink into your 

weeping places, 
Quench Freedom's torch in tears, and put her light 

out in your faces : 
The -heart, of England beats no more to the old 

heroic level ; 
The poor old Woman bows before her Portrait of 

the Devil. 

Bow, bow, bow : 
She may go to the Devil, so it's just as well to bow. 



THE OLD FLAG. 

An Emperor babbled in his dreams, — 

Ne'er sleeps the secret in his soul, — 
" The Lion is old, and ready he seems 

To draw my Chariot to its goal." 
With awful light the Lion's eye 

Began to flame — sublime he stands ! 
With looks that make the Tyrant try 

To hide his bloody hands. 
Thank God, the advancing tide is met ! 
Thank God, the Old Flag 's flying yet. 

We love our native land and laws, 

And He would rather we did not ! 
We are Conspirators because 

We are in our little green grass plot ! 
But let him follow up his frown, 

Marshal his myriads for the blow ; 
Those who are doomed to drown must drown, 

The rest we '11 take in tow ! 
In Cherbourg's sight their gallows set 
Beside the Old Flag flying yet. 

Our Ghost of Greatness hath not fled 
At crowing of the Gallic Cock ; 



136 THE OLD FLAG. 

A foreign Despot's heel shall tread 
No print upon our English rock. 

Here Freedom by the Lion grand 
Sits safe, and Una-like doth hold 

Him gently with her gentle hand ; 
And long as seas enfold, 

High on our topmost height firm-set, 

We '11 keep her Old Flag flying yet. 

To Freedom we must aye be true ; 

Our England must be Freedom's home ; 
For sake of our dead Darlings who 

Went heavenward crowned with martyrdom 
'Twas she who made us what we are, 

Throned on our sea-cliffs grey and grand; 
Great image of majestic care ! 

Fair Bride of Fatherland ! 
We do but pay the filial debt 
To keep her Old Flag flying yet. 

This little Isle is Freedom's Bark 

That rideth in a perilous path : 
Around us one wide sea of dark 

That beats and breaks in stormy wrath. 
The Despots drove poor Freedom forth, 

By bloody footprints trackt her road ; — 
And homeless, homeless, else on earth 

She takes to her sea-abode ! 
She turns on us her eyes tear-wet ; 
Ah, keep the Old Flag flying yet. 

Statesmen have drawn back meek and mute, 

Or pardon begged from bullying foes, 
Whene'er a Military boot 

Was stampt upon retreating toes. 
They shrink to hear Him at our gates, 

This ominous thing of gloom and gore, 
Tho' Revolution for him waits 

At Danger's every door. 



THE OLD FLAG. 137 

But little do we heed his threat ! 
We keep the Old Flag flying yet. 

Over the praying peoples rolled 

The dark tide, and we helpt them not. 
Yet on our lifted hands, behold, 

We cry, behold no bloody spot ! 
This famous people's heart is sound, 

It fights for all that bleed and smart ; 
We — banned above — meet underground, 

Meet in a touch of heart. 
We cannot our old fame forget ; 
We keep the Old Flag flying yet. 

We have a true and tender clasp 

For Freedom's friends where'er their home, 
And for her foes as grim a grasp, 

No matter when or whence they come. 
We like that gay light-hearted France 

That into stormy splendour breaks, 
When its brave music for the dance 

Of Death the battle makes ; 
And foot to foot would proudly set 
To keep the Old Flag flying yet. 

But what is France ? this cruel Power 

That builds upon her martyred dead, 
Whose spirits thicken hour by hour 

The air about its doomed head ? 
This Death-in-Life throned on the grave, 

That in the darkness waits its prey ? 
Like Coral-workers neath the wave, 

It dies on reaching day. 
The Sun of France hath not thus set, 
But, keep the Old Flag flying yet. 

France, who hath stood erect and first, 
Will not lie latest in the dust : 



138 THE OLD FLAG. 

Ere long her breath of scorn will burst 
This bubble blown of bloody lust. 

Quietly, quietly turns the tide, 

And when this shore lies black and bare, 

There shall be no more sea to hide 
The Wrecker's secrets there 

Our lot is cast, our task is set, 

To keep the Old Flag flying yet. 

Save him? this Burglar of the night 

Broke into Freedom's sacred shrines ! 
This Lie uncrowned whene'er the light 

Of merciless next morning shines ! 
This terror of a land struck dumb, 

Who fed the Furies with brave blood I 
We cannot save him when they come 

For his. Not if we would. 
So slippery is the hand blood-wet ! 
Ah, keep the Old Flag flying yet. 

The Tyrant sometimes waxeth strong 

To drag a fate more fearful down : 
He veileth Justice who ere long 

Shall see Eternal Justice frown. 
The Kings of Crime from near and far 

Shall come to crown him with their crown ; 
Under the shadow of doom his Star 

Will redden, and go down. 
And day shall dawn when it hath set, 
But, keep the Old Flag flying yet. 

Leaves fall, but lo ! the young buds peep ! 

Flowers die and still their seed shall bloom ; 
From death the quick young life will leap 

When Spring goes by the wintry tomb. 
And tho' their graves are husht, in stern 

Heroic dream the dead men lie ! 
To God their still white faces turn : 

The murdered do not die. 



ENGLAND AND LOUIS NAPOLEON. 139 

Will God the Martyrs' seed forget ? 
No. Keep 'the Old Flag flying yet. 

This triumph of the spoken word 

Is well, my England, but give heed ! 
The world leans on thee as a Sword 

For Freedom in her battle-need. 
Star of a thousand battles red, 

Be thou the Beacon of the Free ! 
Turn round thy luminous side, and shed 

God's light o'er land and sea. 
Thro' floods, or flames, or bloody sweat, 
Keep thou the Old Flag flying yet. 

The splendid shiver of brave blood 

Is thrilling through our England now ! 
She who so often hath withstood 

The Tyrants, lifts her brightened brow. 
God's precious charge we proudly keep 

In circling arms of victory ! 
With Freedom we shall live, or sleep 

With our dear dead who are free. 
God forget us when we forget 
To keep the Old Flag flying yet. 



ENGLAND AND LOUIS NAPOLEON. 

May, 1859. 

Majestic Mother ! Thine was not a brow 

To bend, and blindly take a tinsel Crown 

From hands like His. Thy glorious Sons have 

won 
More crowns than thou cq,nst wear, tho' all the 

year 
A fresh one glistened daily. These are crowns 



140 ENGLAND AND LOUIS NAPOLEON. 

Untarnishable by the breath of scorn ! 

And crowns that never can be melted down 

And minted for the market. Thine was not 

A soul to wear the fetters that made fast 

His stolen throne to him, and gracefully 

To drape the imperial purple round, and hide 

The blood that splasht there, red till Judgment 

Day. 
He stole on France, deflowered her in the night, 
Then tore her tongue out lest she told the tale ; 
And Statesmen called him friend, and proudly held 
Our Banner over him, while moneyed worldlings, 
So pleased they knew not on which leg to stand, 
Went on their knees, and worshipt his success, 
So prostrate in their souls, so prone in dust, 
They saw not how the feet were only clay, 
For all the golden Image ; they forgot 
How meanest reptiles crawl up tallest towers. 

Our England is long-suffering, and slow 
Of judgment, lulled by seeming to the last. 
And they are busy dreaming their dark dreams, 
While she is sleeping sound in trustful peace. 
'Tis well for thee, my Country, when the day 
Breaks, thou canst never match them in the dark ! 
Thine eyes are blind where Birds of night see best. 
But instinct, that Veiled Prophet of the Soul, 
Flashes up, startled from its seeing trance, 
As tho' God's hand had toucht it while we slept. 
There 's some invisible danger drawing near, 
That hath not taken shape yet, but it comes. 
The still small voice cries wake, my Country, wake, 
And sleep no more while that Man's in the world. 
The treacherous dealer will deal treacherously ; 
The lawless Bower is still above all Law ! 
The Foe that cometh at the dead of night 
May find the Goodman slumbering with the arms 
Too rusted on the walls. Make the Sword sharp ! 
Watch warily, you lookers from the hill ! 






ENGLAND AND LOUIS NAPOLEON. 141 

Arm every rampart, rock, and tower of Right, 
And arm the people ; thus, securely armed, 
We may sit safe and hold the hands of War 
In ours, he cannot strike us for the time. 

Once more the war-wave surges gaily out 

From Paris with its gallant armaments, 

In music's pomp, and bannered pride, and dance 

Of life light-hearted, and light-headed crests. 

The Ghost of Buonaparte hath broken loose 

From hell this time ! ripe Scholar in its lore ! 

With Ruin's lighted torch half hidden in 

The Devil's own dark lanthorn. We shall see 

The night-side of Napoleon, as he tracks 

His old earth foot-prints black with rusted blood. 

Alas, poor Italy ! the Storm of War 

From its fire-mountain throne sweeps burning down, 

Its purple lava-mantle trails behind, 

Embracing all and blasting all it folds. 

A sea of soldiery breaks over her ; 

Her fair face darkens in the shadow of Swords ; 

Destruction drives his ploughshare thro' her soil, 

But will he turn her old lost Jewel to light? 

Another crop of young heroic life 

Is ready for the Reaper ; it springs fast 

In such a land, so watered, with such blood. 

Poor fools ! this Despot turned Deliverer is 

A sneaking Cutpurse, not a Cutthroat grand, 

Like him that lifted up a Sword of fire, 

Whose flashes frightened nations, and went forth, 

A prairie-flame consuming men as grass : 

How dazzlingly his beacon-star that danced 

From crown to crown did shine above the lands 

He covered with his purple and his pall ! 

He stormed the dizziest heights, and there he stood 

In sanguine glory ! Like a Battle God 

Ruling the strife with face of marble calm ! 

The eyes of Heaven that look down on us with 



142 ENGLAND AND LOUIS NAPOLEON. 

The earnestness of all eternity, 

Saw our old world turn blood-red mirroring Him ! 

Napoleon dilated till he filled 

The vision of France instead of Liberty. 

And such the glamour of his grandeur, She 

Knew not which Image crowned the Column lifted 

A heaven above her, in her love and worship. 

But this Man leads her eyeless, blind in blood. 

He bears a Burglar's Bludgeon, not a Sword : 

Great Oath-breaker, and not World- Victor He. 

How far the tide may flood, how quick return 
With wreck and ruin for its freightage home, 
We know not, nor how soon the nether pit 
May open and stern Nemesis rise up 
For vengeance infinitely terrible ! 
As in the grim Norse dream Loke lyeth bound 
Down at the heart o' the world, so Tyranny keeps 
A potent spirit fettered underground, 
And o'er it hangs a Serpent horrible, 
With eyes thro' which all hell crowds up to see 
The poison-fire spit in that Spirit's face ; 
In straining waves it writhes along to squeeze 
Its soul of venom into every drop : 
And there sits Wife-like Patience at the side, 
Catching the poison till her cup will hold 
No more, and she must empty it. Ah then 
The poison burns ! and with one great heart-heave 
That Spirit's bonds are burst ! an Earthquake 'i 
born. 

These Despots do but throw with loaded dice ; 
They lose or win by other will than theirs ! 
A Goddess blind leads worshippers as blind. 
Henceforth we have no part in this man's lot, 
No faith in him ; he goes his way, we ours : 
If we were true to him we must be false 
To all our dearest deeds and noblest dreams ! 
We are no close-chained Mob for one to walk 



ENGLAND AND LOUIS NAPOLEON. 143 

Over our heads, and kiss the feet that tread ! 

Our welding oneness binds up all our wounds, 

And one heart and one breath make healing life. 

We trust in God, and mean to hold our own. 

We are not stainless ; there are wrongs on wrongs 

Crying for Right ! the patient heavens have lookt 

On many a failing sadly ! England's Star 

Hath winkt on many a crime, and thro' the gloom 

Suffering still doggeth Sin, to strike at last. 

M$y God forgive us, we are apt to grow 

Unmindful of our blessings, and forget 

That this is England, and forget how He 

Hath wrought for England ; that the sacred Ark 

Rests on this Ararat ; we dare not face 

The world with that same faith we dare profess 

Kneeling to God. And so at times we need 

A hint from Heaven, and these are often stern. 

May God forsake not England, but in need 

Look smilingly upon her ! 

We at least 
Will never run beside this Tyrant's car 
Of triumph, glorying in the dust we raise ! 
Our voice at least shall cry aloud his fall, 
Tho' but a lonely trumpet in the night, 
And spare not him who plots against our land. 

O statesmen, ye who lead this noble land, 

May you prove wise and worthy ! Great good 

Men, 
With hearts that beat to high heroic measures, 
And strength still equal to the sternest time ; 
With faith to fight and patience to work on, 
Still knowing these live longer than a Lie ! 
The pyramid of our power is not complete 
Until it touches heaven for its crown ! 
And if the Bloody Star should turn this way 
Its red eye of destruction, fierce to see 
The pride and prowess of our might go down 
With England for funereal pyre ; then give 



I 44 ENGLAND AND "LOUIS NAPOLEON. 

No quarter to the foes that strike at us ! 

Thro' fire and foam flash on them, and strike home 

Like Lightnings of the Lord ! fuel the flames 

Of Battle with the Revolution's wrecks 

That drift upon our shores. In Tyrant-land 

A young Deliverer lies a-dream, and sees 

Such splendours in his visions only eyes 

When veiled can look on ! tell him the time's 

come ! 
He will arise and stretch his hand and snatch 
The Sword. It will be resurrection day ! 
The Tyrant's fortresses and palaces 
Built with the Headsman's scaffold will dissolve ; 
The piles of ghastly, gory heads shall turn 
To flaming-sworded Spirits ! the dry bones 
Will stir and rise up in a dance of life. 

You lovers of our England, do but look 

On this dear country over whose fair face 

God droopt a bridal veil of tender mist, 

That she might keep her beauty virginal, 

And He might see her thro' a softer glory ; 

So very meek and reverent doth she stand 

Within this shadow soft of Love Divine, 

More lovable, and not as brighter lands 

Whose bolder beauty stares up in heaven's face. 

Look on her now, this jewel of the world, 

Set in that marriage-ring of circling sea ! 

She smiles upon her Image in its calm, 

Like some proud Ship that floateth in its shadow. 

And as a happy lover clasps his Bride, 

The fond Sea folds her round, and his brimmed life 

Runs rippling to her inmost heart of hearts, 

Until it swims a-flood with happiness ; 

And all the waters of her love leap back 

To him exultant from a thousand hills. 

From his salt virtue comes her northern sweetness. 

How his rough kisses make her roses bloom ! 

Once in his roused wrath he lifted up 



ENGLAND AND LOUIS NArOLEON. 145 

A mighty Armada in his arms, and dasht 
It into sea-drift at his Mistress' feet. 
And still he threatens with his voice of storms 
The plots of all Invaders ; still he keeps 
Eternal watch around. How proud in peace, 
The wild white horses rear and foam along 
And bring to her the harvests of the world ! 
How grand in war they bear her battle line 
In strength half-smiling, perfect Power crowned 
With careless grace, which seemeth to all eyes 
The plume of Triumph nodding as it goes ; 
For visible victory sits upon her brow, 
And shines upon her sails. 

See where sne sits 
Holding at heart her noble dead, and nursing 
Her living Children on the old brave virtue ; 
Wearing the rainy radiance of the morning, 
With silver sweetness swimming in her tears, 
Feeling the glory rippling down from heaven 
With smiles from all her wild flowers, her green 

leaves, 
And nooks where old times live their shepherd 

ways. 
We cannot count her heroes who lay down 
In quiet graveyards when their work was done ; 
But mound on mound they rise all over the land 
To bar a Tyrant's path, and make his feet 
To stumble like the blind man among tombs. 
Her brave dead make our earth heroic dust ; 
Their spirit glitters in our England's face 
And makes her shine, a Star in blackest night, 
Calm at her heart, and glory round her head. 
We think of all who fought, and who are now 
Immortals in the heaven of her love ; 
The Martyrs who have made of burning wrongs 
Their fiery chariot, and gone up to God ; 
The saintly Sorrows that now walk in white • 
Till faces bloom like battle Banners flusht 
All over with most glorious memories. 
10 



146 ENGLAND AND LOUIS NAPOLEON. 

We are a chosen People ; Freedom wears 
Our English Rose for her peculiar crest, 
Whoso dares touch it bleeds upon the thorn : 
It ma) r be that the time will come again 
For one more desperate struggle to the death. 
The Devil's eye upon our England looks 
With snaky sparkle still. It may be they 
Will rouse the tamed Berserkir rage, and make 
The vein of wrath throb livid on her brow, 
And wake the old Norse War-dog in her blood, 
Until she springs afloat upon the sea 
Like an Immortal white-winged on the air, 
The joy of swiftness lightning thro' her veins. 

Thrice hath our England swept the seas, and cleared 
Her ocean path, the highways of the world, 
And shall again if Robbers lie in wait. 
She hath stood fast when towering Nations poured 
In one wild wave their culminating power ! 
Thro' all that harvest-day of bloody death, 
They charged in vain, and dasht upon the edge 
Of her red sword, and fell, at Waterloo ! 
We kept the shamble slopes of Inkermann ! 
Thro' blood and fire and gloom of Indian War 
We swam the Red Sea, and rode out the storm ! 
So shall we hold our own dear land with all 
The old unvanquisht soul, and we shall see 
Their changing Empires shift like sand around 
The Island Rock, the footstool of the Lord, 
Where Freedom also lays her head, and rest 
In calm or storm the best hopes of a world. 

Ah, let the Peacemen preach, but let our Peace 
Be Right victorious, not triumphant Wrong ! 
These pallid Peacemen are to true men what 
Our world might be without its iron ore ; 
But never may the grand old bravery die. 
No, no ! we must not let the death-fires dance 
Along our heights with their funereal flames, 



ENGLAND AND LOUIS NAPOLEON. 147 

As Hell had thrust up, many red-hot tongues 
To get its lap of blood when earth is drencht. 
Our green fields must not blush in blood for us ! 
We must not let them pluck the old land down 
To throne them in her seat ; they must not wear 
The Crown she raced for round the world and 

won. 
Our Country has a name and fame might fill 
The eyes of Hate and Envy with tame tears ; 
And they shall never lay her low while we 
Are true to her in heart and head and hand. 
And all who come in peace will find a home, 
And all who come in war a mouthful of 
Our dust in death, and Sea-beach for a grave. 

Great starry thoughts grow luminous in the dark ! 

The Bird of Hope goes singing overhead ! 

We cannot fear for England, we can die 

To do her bidding, but we cannot fear : 

We who have heard her thunder-roll of deeds 

Reverberating thro' the centuries ; 

By battle fire-light had the stories told ; 

We who have seen how proudly she prepares 

For sacrifice, how radiantly her face 

Flasht when the Bugle blew its bloody sounds, 

And bloody weather fluttered her old Flag ; 

We who have seen her with the red heaps round ; 

We who have known the mightiest powers dashed 

back 
Broken from her impregnable sea-walls ; 
We who have learned how in the darkest hour 
The greatest light breaks out, and in the time 
Of trial she reveals her noblest strength ; 
For we have felt her big heart beat in ours. 

Hail to thee, Mother of Nations ! mighty yet 
To strive, and suffer, and give overthrow ! 
For all the powers of nature fight for thee. 
Spirits that sleep in glory shall awake, 



148 THE BROAD-BOTTOMED MINISTRY. 

Come down and drive thy Car of victory 
Over thine enemies' necks. 

Long will they wait 
Who privily lurk to stab thee when the night 
Shall cover all in darkness. 

Dear old Land, 
Thy shining glories are no Sunset gleams, 
But clouds that kindle round some great new 
Dawn. 



THE BROAD-BOTTOMED MINISTRY. 

Now tell me you who wink, or blink, or think, 
What good is a Broad bottom if we sink ? 
Not Whigs ! not Tories ! we want English souls 
Where-thro' there yet reverberates and rolls 
Some echo of old greatness ; good stout hands 
Must bear our Banner over seas and lands ! 
Our forms of freedom must not choke the breath, 
The outer mail be forged for inner death ! 
There is a wild hour coming for us when 
We must all weather it as Englishmen. 

We cannot leave the land for watch and ward 
To those who know not what a gem they guard ; 
Who bind us helpless for the Bird of Blood 
To swoop on ; who would have this famous flood 
Of English Freedom stagnate till it stink, 
While reptiles wriggle in their slimy drink, 
And frogs shall reign in darkness ; croak all nighl 
And call the Stars false Prophets of the light 

Our good ship may be driving on the rocks ; 
We want a Compass, and not Weather-Cocks ! 
We have had leaders who strode forward all 



THE BROAD-BOTTOMED MINISTRY. 149 

On fire to serve her at their Country's call ; 
They did not stoop, till blind, for place and pelf, 
Their whole life burned a sacrifice of self! 
They faced the Spirit of the Storm and Strife, 
And with an upward smile laid down their life. 

But now our leaders are the coward and cold ; 
The Gnomes whose daylight is a gleam of gold ; 
The Dwarfs who sun them in a Tyrant's smile ; 
The Peacemen who would set our dear green Isle 
Spinning their Cotton till the judgment hour, 
With Ocean turning round for water-power. 
These pander to this Plunderer of the night; 
Confused their little sense of Wrong and Right ! 
And they would bow our England's dear head down 
Trustfully in his lap to leave her crown ! 
See her sit weeping where her brave lie dead ; 
Blood on her raiment, ashes on her head. 

A Palmerston now crawls where Cromwell stood ; 

A Tyrant's Parasite, that licks the blood 

From, his red hand, an old eternal stain ! 

And takes, for Glory's sign, that brand of Cain ! 

He is an Eve in innocence we know, 

But leans and listens to the Serpent so. 

We are no safer although well we weet 

The fruit of knowledge He will never eat. 

In Milton's patriot seat sits little John, 
Who to the muzzle loads his monster gun, 
And fires in air if it goes off at all, 
To find his own lead on his own head fall, 
If he have any, for, since he who bled 
Upon a Tyrant's block once lost his head, 
To keep up the tradition Lord John is 
Determined to be always losing his. 

And Gladstone aims at nothing, sure to hit, 
Or splits fine hairs till he have none to split 



150 OLD HARLEQUIN PAM. 

Who rides out from the ranks for challenge, He 

May toss the Sword and catch it gracefully, 

But must be able, when the onsets come, 

To drive with slaying hand his hilt heart-home. 

He is a Seer, but, so many-eyed, 

He sees so many ways from many a side ! 

His eyes like horses in old punishment, 

Whereby all ways at once the doomed was rent, 

Draw to divide him, follow if he dare, 

He is to pieces pulled by either pair. 

These be our Leaders now ! Napoleon's Pal 
Is head of England's power, and crowning all, 
To cool the blood, and soothe all sin to rest, 
The great castrated Quaker Interest 
Stands Eunuch at the Privy chamber. 

Wake 
My England ! these thy Sword and Shield ? they 

make 
A Ministry broad bottomed without doubt 
For better Target when vou kick them out. 



OLD HARLEQUIN PAM. 

Our Greatest of Men is Harlequin Pam, 

The " Times " says so, and the " Times " cannot 

bam ! 
But I '11 prove it true. In an Age of Sham, 
Our greatest of Humbugs is Harlequin Pam. 
Humbug in riches it reeks and it rolls, 
Humbug in luxury lazily lolls, 
Humbug in Senate and Humbug in Shop, 
Humbug makes sweet the Assassin's last drop ; 
And Pam, Pam is the King of all Sham, 
So our greatest of Men must be Harlequin Pam. 



OLD HARLEQUIN PAM. 151 

England, this is the Man for you, 

The " Times " says so, and it must be true. 

Did the Vessel of State hurry down to the Fall, 

No stay from the current, no help for the call ! 

To the uttermost edge of destruction track t, 

On the crumbling brink of the Cataract, 

Pam would go thro' the leap like a Clown 

In the Ring, and with grace and applause go 

down ! 
Tho' the whirl sank the Ship it could scarce keep a 

straw in ! 
And all one to Pam come eclat or a clawin' ! 
Pam, Pam, you 're a wonderful sham ! 
And we can't do without you, old Harlequin 

Pam! 
England, this is the Man for you, 
The " Times " says so, and it must be true. 

That he pulls with the People at first sight is 
seen ; 

Look again ! they are chained with a post be- 
tween ! 

He bullies the weak, to the strong he 's a slave, 

Best card in the pack when the Despots play 
knave ! 

How he jauntily trips up the Palace back stair, 

To quiet the mob in the Public Square ! 

Look up, what a firework of words red hot ! 

But lo ! in the enemy's camp not a shot ! 

Pam, Pam, you 're a wonderful sham ! 

And Ave can't do without you, old Harlequin 
Pam ! 

England, this is the Man for you ! 

The " Times " says so, and it must be true. 

To oblige his Emperor friend who, one day, 
Won Imperial stakes as he played foul play, 
He put the old Lion in blinkers, and held him, 



_02 THE SEA KINGS. 

And tried, per French pattern, to carve him and 

gild him. 
And ere long another high wind will blow, 
Then ho, ho ! but the Crowns will go ! 
And what will they do if this Judas of Freedom 

then 
Can't help the Despots who terribly need him 

then ? 
Pam, Pain, you're a wonderful sham, 
And we can't do without you, old Harlequin 

Pam! 
England, this is the Man for you ! 
The " Times " says so, and it must be true. 

This dazzling shallow will shimmer so, 
The blind don't see there 's no depth below ! 
This sparkling Sham for a jewel will pass, 
If set in a Crown, tho' 't is only cut glass ! 
This political firefly tho' faded no matter, 
*T will gleam out again when it gets in hot water ! 
This bubble as long as you puff it will float, 
And so my song ends with its Cuckoo note. 
Pam, Pam, you 're a wonderful sham,. 
But we can't do without you, old Harlequin 

Pam! 
England, this is the Man for you, 
The " Times " says so, and it must be true. 



THE SEA KINGS. 



The Spaniard thought to wear our crown, 

Three hundred years ago ; 
And bend the head of England down 

To kiss the Pope's great toe ! 



THE SEA KINGS. 153 



And next the Dutchman swept the Sea 

With besom topmast high, 
Gone is their Ocean sovereignty ! 

To-day, how low they lie ! 



And now the Frenchman's old wounds burn 

Like devils in their pain, 
And bode the weather of war will turn 

To a bath of bloody rain. 
Tingle and ring the ears of France 

With sound of battle hymns ; 
As on Ambition's dark, mad trance 

The bloody vision swims. 

in. 

Sons of the old Norse sailors brave, 

We fill their place to-day, — 
No wreath of foam upon the wave, 

To flash and pass away. 
Our perilous prize we guard and keep 

Till last relief God brings, 
Then lie in calm majestic sleep 

Along with the old Sea Kings. 



Well may your proud eyes sparkle, ye 

Rough Sea Kings, young and old ; 
The salt sea-spirit laughs to see 

The Frenchman grown so bold. 
Sword-bayonets, rifled cannon, may 

The poor of heart alarm, 
But pluck at last will win the day 

With naked strength of arm. 



We are not beaten at a dash, 
Nor swiftly overthrown, — 

Let ship with ship together lash, 
We know who must go down. 



154 THE SEA KINGS. 

No man in Gallic land will live 

To see us dispossest ; 
When our sun sets at sea we give 

Our glory to the West. 



Those old unconquerable waves, 

They mock at Tyranny ; 
And never can a land of slaves 

Be Ruler of the Sea. 
But would you see their Empress, now 

Behold her ! here she smiles, 
This diadem on Ocean's brow, 

This Glory of the Isles. 

VII. 

We 've fed the Sea with English souls, 

And every mounded wave 
To Heaven bears witness, for it rolls 

Some English seaman's grave ' 
Our rivers bear heroic dust 

For burial in that sea, 
Which helps to keep our noble trust, 

And battles for the F«ree. 



Not always down the primrose path 

Of dalliance can we tread, 
Ofttimes the Chosen People hath 

To climb with foot-prints red : 
Our highest life with cross, and scorn, 

And tears, may yet be trod, 
And England wear a crown of thorn, 

Whose Roses bloom in blood. 



We have immortal quarrel with 
The men who war with Right ; 

We will not own him kin or kith, 
Who fails us in this fight. 



s THE SEA KINGS. 155 

No room for him on English ground, 

No bed in Ocean's breast, 
Who draws her purple curtains round 

Unfathomable rest. 

x. 

If those old Greeks for Beauty wrought 

Their ten-years' daring deed, 
Shall it be said that less we fought 

For Freedom in her need ? 
No. Fight till all the Brave lie dead, 

And grass grows on the mart ; 
But Freedom here shall rest her head 

Upon Old England's heart. 



Like some old Eagle on her nest, 

Up in her pride of place, 
Our England sits with brooding breast, 

And looks with sharpened face ! 
She feels the Shadow of a Hand, 

But ere it touch her brood. 
The Sea that narrows round our land 

Shall run a moat of blood. 



Wave out, Old Bird ! or still brood on ! 

They shall not bring you low ; 
A thousand years have come and gone, 

A thousand more shall go ! 
Our True Hearts still shall tread the deck, 

Our Ships sail every sea, 
And ride like those who rein the neck 

Of rearing Tyranny. 

XIII. 

We 've mounted many a windy wave, 
We 've weathered many storms ; 



156 THE SEA KINGS. 

Unshaken still we hear them rave, 

Safe in the eternal arms. 
For if the worst comes — every man — 

We '11 perish in our place, 
And then the Frenchman, if he can, 

May lead the new Sea-Race ! 



THE MOTHER'S IDOL BROKEN. 



Tenderly did he usher us within 

The holy of holies of a Father's heart, 

Where gloomed the first great sorrow still and stei'n 

The dark, unfeatured Guest — now fading slow 

In hallowed, healing light. 

Ah, few there he 
But miss some sweetest thing Earth lifted up 
In her old arms to take Heaven's blessing — pure 
As white foam-spirit flashing to the Moon, 
And gone as quickly from our mortal night. 



THE MOTHER'S IDOL BROKEN. 
I. 

Twice the Mother had dived down 

Into her sea of sorrow ; 
O my love ! O my life ! my own sweet Wife ! 

God send you a merry good-morrow. 
Betide her weal, or betide her woe, 

Her smile it was calm and fearless ; 
And proud were her eyes as she rose with the prize, 

A pearl in her palms ! my peerless ! 

O found you a little sea-syren, 

In some perilous palace left ? 
Or is it a little child-angel, 

Of her high-born kin bereft ? 
Or came she out of the Ellin-land, 

By earthly love beguiled ? 
Or hath the sweet Spirit of Beauty 

Taken shape as our starry Child ? 

Dear, do but look in her love-nest of sweets, 

Where she lies in a smiling calm: 
Wee armful of fruitage ; a sheaf of ripe bliss ; 

On a bosom breathing balm. 
Fresh as the drop of dew cradled at morn, 

On leaves of a lily in blossom ; 
Sweet as the fragrance newly born 

In a violet's virgin bosom. 



II. 

God's Butterfly on our love's flower alight ! 
It seemeth the beautiful thing, 



160 the mother's idol bkokex. 

At the first surmise of the heaven she hath left, 
For the winterless world will wing. 

So we fold her about with our love as 't were 
heaven, 
Around her weave many a wile ; 

And our hearts up-leap, living fountains of joy, 
In the golden dream of her smile. 



III. 

On my ripely rounding Rose-tree, 

Dreaming of life are three flowers : 
One pusheth up her ruby-rose-eup, 

For the rain of God's quickening showers. 
With a magical burst of beauty, one glows 

Dewily-dear in the sheen of love ; 
And one pretty Softling, our baby-bud-rose, 

Lies tenderly shut in the green of love. 



IV. 

O fair befall my dainty flowers, 

Summering on their stem ; 
Smiling up to the crowning Rose, 

As she smileth down upon them. 
Smiling up to their Queen in her beauty, 

That smiles on each bonny breast-gem. 
Blossoming, brimming with love for her 

Who leans ruddy with love over them ! 
O fair befall my dainty flowers, 

Summering on their stem ! 
And O the armful of rich love, 

My fragrant human Roses ! 
Smile on them all, sweet Heaven, 

And kiss my darling Roses. 



THE MOTHER'S IDOL BROKEN. 161 

V. 

There be three little maidens ; three loving maid- 
ens ; 

Three bonny maidens mine ; 
Three precious jewels are set in Life's crown, 

On prayer-lifted brows to shine. 
Six starry eyes, all love-luminous, 

Look out of our heaven so tender ; 
Since the honey-moon, glowing and glorious, 

Arose in its ripening splendour. 

There 's Lilybell, duchess of wonderland, 

With dance of life, dimples and curls ; 
Whose bud of a mouth into red kisses bursts 

A-sinile with the wanton white pearls : 
And Sweetcheek, our rosily-goldening peach 

On the sunniest side o' the wall 
But Marian 's Mother's darling, 

Marian 's idol of all. 



VI. 

Like the merry voice-bird that sings on the bough, 

I sing, O my woman Dove, 
To a nest I know in the leaves below. 

Full of eyes alive with love. 
Two of our little Birds wander on wings, 

One can but flutter and fall ; 
Sing, Marian Mother's wee darling, 

Marian 's Idol of all. 



VII. 

All in our marriage garden 
Grew, smiling up to God, 
11 



162 THE mother's idol broken. 

A bonnier flower than ever 

Suckt the green warmth of the sod. 

O beautiful unfathomably 
Its little life unfurled ; 

Love's erowning sweetness was our wee 
White Rose of all the world. 

From out a balmy bosom, 

Our bud of beauty grew ; 
It fed on smiles for sunshine, 

And tears for daintier dew. 
Aye nestling warm and tenderly, 

Our leaves of love were curled 
So close and close about our wee 

White Rose of all the world. 

Two flowers of glorious crimson 

Grew with our Rose of light ; 
Still kept the sweet heaven-grafted slip 

Her whiteness saintly white. 
P the wind of life they danced with glee, 

And reddened as it whirled ; 
White, white and wondrous grew our wee 

White Rose of all the world. 

With mystical faint fragrance, 

Our house of life she filled — 
Revealed each hour some fairy tower, 

Where winged Hopes might build. 
We saw — though none like us might see- 

Such precious promise pearled 
Upon the petals of our wee 

White Rose of all the world. 

But evermore the halo 

Of Angel-light increased ; 
Like the mystery of Moonlight, 

That folds some fairy feast. 



THE MOTHERS IDOL BROKEN. 163 

Snow-white, snow-soft, snow-silently, 

Our darling bud up-curled, 
And dropt i' the Grave — God's lap — our wee 

White Rose of all the world. 

Our Rose was but in blossom ; 

Our life was but in spring ; 
When down the solemn midnight 

We heard the Spirits sing : 
" Another bud of infancy, 

With holy dews impearled ; " 
And in their hands they bore our wee 

White Rose of all the world. 

You scarce could think so small a thing 

Could leave a loss so large ; 
Her little light such shadow flinjj, 

From dawn to sunset's marge. 
In other springs our life may be 

In bannered bloom unfurled ; 
But never, never match our wee 

White Rose of all the world. 



VIII. 

This is a curl of our poor " Splendid's " hair ! 
A sunny burst of rare and ripe young gold — 
A ring of sinless gold that weds two worlds ! 
Our one thing left with her dear life in it. 
Poor Misers ! o'er it secretly we sum 
Our little savings hoarded up in heaven, — 
Our rich love-thoughts heart-hid to doat upon,— 
And glimpse our lost heaven in a flood of tears. 
A magic ring, through which fond Sorrow reads 
Of strange heart-histories, and conjures up 
A vanisht face, with its sweet spirit-smiles, 
Babe-wonderings, and little tender ways. 



164 THE MOTHER'S IDOL BROKEN. 

At birth her hair was dark as it were dipt 

In the death-shadow ; but it rarefied 

In radiance as her head rose nigher heaven, 

Till she — white Glory! — lookt from a golden 

midst. 
This is her still face as she lay m death ! 
Spirit-like face ! set in a silver cloud, 
It comes to us in silent glooms of night ; 
The wee wan face that gradually withdrew 
And darkened into the great cloud of death. 

O ye who say, " We have a Child in heaven ; " 
And know how far away that heaven may seem ; 
Who have felt that desolate isolation sharp 
Defined in Death's own face ; who have stood beside 
The Silent River, and stretcnt out pleading hands 
For some sweet Babe upon the other bank, 
That went forth where no human hand might lead, 
And left the shut house with no light, no sound, 
No answer, when the mourners wail without! 
What we have known, ye know, and only know. 

She came like April, who with tender grace 

Smiles in Earth's face, and sets up'on her breast 

The bud of all her glory yet to come, 

Then bursts in tears, and takes her sorrowful leave. 

She brought us Eden just within the space 

Of the dear depths of her large, dream-like eyes, 

Then o'er the vista fell the death-veil dark. 

She only caught three words of human speech : 

One for her Mother, one for me, and one 

She crowed with, for the fields, and open heaven. 

That last she sighed with a sweet farewell pathos 

A minute ere she left the house of life, 

To come for kisses never any more. 

Pale Blossom ! how she leaned in love to us ! 
And how we feared a hand might reach from 
heaven 



THE MOTHER'S IDOL BROKEN. 165 

To pluck our sweetest flower, our loftiest flower 

Of life, that sprang from lowliest root of love ! 

Some tender trouble in her eyes complained 

Of Life's rude stream, as meek Forget-me-nots 

Make sweet appeal when winds and waters fret. 

And oft she lookt beyond Us with sad eyes, 

As for the coming of the Unseen Hand. 

We saw, but feared to speak of, her strange beauty, 

As some husht Bird that dares not sing i' the night, 

Lest lurking foe should find its secret place, 

And seize it through the dark. With twin-love's 

strength 
All crowded in the softest nestling-touch, 
We fenced her round — exchanging silent looks. 
We went about the house with listening hearts, 
That kept the watch for Danger's stealthiest step. 
Our spirits felt the Shadow ere it fell. 

Then the Physician left our door ajar 

A moment, and the grim thief Death stole in. 

Some Angel passing o'er life's troubled sea, 

Had seen our jewel shine celestial pure, 

And Death must win it for her bosom pearl. 

We stood at Midnight in the Presence dread. 

At midnight, when Men die, we strove with Death, 

To wrench our jewel from his grasping hand. 

Ere the soul loosed from its last ledge of life, 

Her little face peered round with anxious eyes, 

Then, seeing all the old faces, dropt content. 

The mystery dilated in her look, 

Which, on the darkening death-ground, faintly 

caught 
The likeness of the Angel shining near. 
Her passing soul flasht back a glimpse of bliss. 
She was a Child no more, but strong and stern 
As a mailed Knight that had been grappling Death. 
A crown of conquest bound her baby-brow ; 
Her little hands could take the heirdom large ; 



Ifi6 THE MOTHER'S IDOL BROKEN. 

And all her Childhood's vagrant royalty 
Sat staid and calm in some eternal throne. 
Love's kiss is sweet, but Death's doth make immor- 
tal. 

The Mornings came, with glory-garland on, 

To deck heaven's azure tent with hangings brave ; 

Birds, brooks, and bees were singing in the sun, 

Earth's blithe heart breathing bloom into her face, 

The flowers all crowding up like Memories 

Of lovelier life in some forgotten world, 

Or dreams of peace and beauty yet to come. 

The soft south-breezes rockt the baby-buds 

In fondling arms upon a balmy breast ; 

And all was gay as universal life 

Swam down the stream that glads the City of God. 

But we lay dark where Death had struck us down 

With that stern blow which made us bleed within, 

And bow while the Inevitable went by. 

And there our Darling lay in coffined calm ; 
Beyond the breakers and the moaning now ! 
And o'er her flowed the white, eternal peace : 
The breathing miracle into silence passed: 
Never to stretch wee hands, with her dear smile 
As soft as light-fall on unfolding flowers ; 
Never to wake us crying in the night: 
Our little hindering tiling for ever gone, 
In tearful quiet now we might toil on. 
All dim the living lustres motion makes ! 
No life-dew in the sweet cups of her eyes ! 
Nought there of our poor " Splendid " but her brow 

A young Immortal came to us disguised, 

And in the joy-dance dropt her mask, and fled. 

The world went lightly by and heeded not 
Our death-white windows blinded to the sun ; 



THE MOTHER'S IDOL BROKEN. 167 

The hearts that ached within ; the measureless 

loss ; 
The Idol broken ; our first tryst with Death. 
O Life, how strange thy face behind the veil ! 
And stranger yet will thy strange mystery seem, 
When we awake in death and tell our Dream. 
'T is hard to solve the secret of the Sphinx ! 
We had a little gold Love garnered up, 
To bravely robe our Babe : the Mother's half 
Was turned to mourning-raiment for her dead : 
Mine bought the first land we called ours — Her 

grave. 
We were as treasure-seekers in the earth, 
When lo, a death's-head on a sudden stares. 

Clad all in spirit-beauty forth she went ; 

Her budding spring of life in tiny leaf; 

Her gracious gold of babe-virginity 

Unminted in the image of our world ; 

Her faint dawn whitened in the perfect day. 

Our early wede away went back to God, 

Bearing her life-scroll folded, without stain, 

And only three words written on it — two 

Our names ! Ah, may they plead for us in heaven ! 



IX. 

Very softly hold the Rose, 

On thy happy breast that blows! 

Thus from out my heart there sprang a flower of 
tender pride. 

All too wild my passion burned : 
For the cooling dews it yearned : 

In my hot hands droopt my gentle flower and died. 

Be thy glory meekly worn : 
Fairest fruit is lowliest borne : 



168 THE mother's idol brokex. 

Mine grew high as Life could climb, and arms could 
reach above. 

O, so proudly heaved my breast ; 

All the world should see how blest ; 
And the seeing Heavens took my lifted love. 



There is her nest where balmily smiled 

Our Babe, as we leaned above ; 
Or her pleading face asked for the tenderest place 

In all our world of love. 
Very silent and empty now ! yet we feel 

It rock ; and a tiny footfall 
Comes over the floor in the thrilling night-hush, 

And our hearts leap up for the call 
Of our puir wee lainmie dead anil gone ; 
Our bonnie wee lannnie dead and gone. 

Last night, with hands to cracking claspt 

In the furnace-fire of my heart, 
Sitting, I saw the dead world 

All into spirit-life start 
At the mystic touch of the white Moonlight. 

My spirit arose likewise, 
And wandered away to the Graveyard, 

Where, a jewel in Death's hand, lies 
Our puir wee lammie dead and gone ; 
Our bonnie wee lammie dead and gone. 

Slowly, slowly rose the dead, 

All in their robes of white ! 
Weirdly, weirdly rose the dead, 

Up in the silent night ! 
Like lilies for God, from the dark grave-bed, 

They grew in a glory-rain ; 
And the crowned Darling of Heaven, at the head 

Of all that glorified train, 



THE MOTHER'S IDOL BROKEN. 169 

Was our puir wee lammie dead and gone ; 
Our bonnie wee lammie dead and gone. 

In my dream I stood at the death-door dark, 

Alone and tremblingly, 
Till a Shining One came in a crescent bark, 

Moonlike, o'er a purple sea. 
She smiled as to say that she knew the way, 

And at some secret sign, 
A memory of the old lite stirred, 

And I knew that Angel mine ! 
Our puir wee lammie dead and gone ; 
Our bonnie wee lammie dead and gone. 



XI. 

Within a mile of Edinburgh Town 
We laid our little darling down ; 
Our first seed in God's acre sown ! 

So sweet a place ! Death looks beguiled 
Of half his gloom ; or saire he smiled 
To win our wondrous, spirit child. 

God giveth His Beloved sleep 

So calm, within its silence deep, 

As Angel-guards the watch did keep. 

The City looketh solemn and sweet ; 
It bares a gentle brow, to greet 
The mourners mourning at its feet. 

The sea of human life breaks round 

This shore o' the dead, with softened sound : 

Wild-flowers climb each mossy mound 

To place in resting hands their palm, 
And breathe their beauty, bloom, and balm 
Folding the dead in fragrant calm. 



170 THE MOTHER'S IDOL BROKEN. 

A softer shadow Grief might wear ; 
And old Heartache come gather there 
The peace that falleth after prayer. 

Poor heart, that danced among the vines 
. All reeling-ripe with sweet love-wines, 
Thou walk'st with Death among the pines ! 

Lorn Mother, at the dark grave-door, 
She kneeleth, pleading o'er and o'er, 
But it is shut for evermore. 

Blind, blind ! She feels, but cannot i-ead 
Aright ; then leans as she would feed 
The dear dead lips that never heed. 

The spirit of life may leap above, 
But in that grave her prisoned dove 
Lies, cold to th' warm embrace of love, 

And dark, tho' all the world is bright ; 
And lonely, with a City in sight ; 
And desolate in the rainy night. 

Ah, God ! when in the glad life-cup 
The face of Death swims darkly up ; 
The crowning flower is sure to droop. 

And so we laid our darling down, 

"When Summer's cheek grew ripely brown, 

And still, tho' grief hath milder grown, 

Unto the Stranger's land we cleave, 

Like some poor Birds that grieve and grieve, 

Round the robbed nest, and cannot leave. 



THE MOTHER'S IDOL BROKEN. 171 



XII. 

Ah, the sweet Dream, the singing Dream, that sang 
We knew not what, so sweet the melody ! 
Made dim woe glimmer golden while we slept ; 
And when we woke the lulling Dream was gone. 

We who had glowed like Angels in the sun, 
With life so lighted by her loveliness : 
We let her down into the drowning Dark, 
Sailing the awful Sea in our World-bark. 

God's messenger of death seems blindly stern : 
And 't is so hard to leave a little babe 
Within the Grave's cold arms, alone ! while Sorrow 
Comes Home and chills the nest her sweet life 
warmed. 

So little to the world ! but what a world 
Of difference in our little world of home ! 
This stillness where the sweet Bird chirpt to us; 
This good-night-parting-and-morn-greeting loss. 

And yet perchance the kind dark- Angel drew 
Her in the secret shadow of his cloud, 
Out of our warm and golden air, to hide 
Her from some fearful Fate far-hurrying up. 



XIII. 

To-day, when winds of winter blow, 
And Nature sits in dream of snow, 
With Ugolino-look of woe : 

Wife from the window came to me, 
Now leaves were fallen she could see 
That wee grave in the Cemet'ry. 



172 THE MOTHER'S IDOL BROKEN. 

With wintriness all life did ache 

For that dead darling's sainted sake ; 

And lips might kiss, but hearts would quake. 

Ho, ye who pass her narrow house, 

By which the dark Leith sea-ward flows ; 

O clasp your pretty darlings close ; 

And if some tender bud of light 

Is drooping, as the snowdrop white, 

With looks that weird wild heartstrings smite , 

Think of our babe will never wake, 
And fold your own till fond hearts ache, 
Sweet souls, for little Marian's sake. 



XIV. 

O happy tree ; 

Green and fragrant tree ; 
Spring with budding jewels deckt it like a Bride ! 

All so fair it bloomed, 

And the summer air perfumed ; 
Golden autumn fruitage smiled in crowns of pride 

O human tree ; 

Waesome wailing tree ; 
In the winter wind how it rocks ! how it grieves ! 

On a little low grave-mound, 

All its bravery lies discrowned : 
O'er its fallen fruit it heaps the withered leaves. 



XV. 

" Pretty flowers on Baby's head ; 
Who '11 cry flowers when Baby 's dead ? 



THE MOTHER'S IDOL BROKEN. 173 

Singing hearts oft questioned, 
In the sweetest summer fled. 

Marian, Marian. 

Tearful words, how lightly said ! 
Mournfully remembered, 
Now the sweet new year hath spread 
Blossom-life on Baby's bed. 

Marian, Marian. 

Tender emerald, white and red, 
Flowers of her beauty bred : 
Breathing all of her that 's dead, 
Cry, " We crown her Baby-head ! " 

Mafian, Marian. 

" Who '11 cry flowers when Baby 's dead ? " 

Praying looks to heaven are led, 

And it smiles as tho' it said, 
" Early her sweet fame hither sped." 

Marian, Marian. 

" Faith, look up and firmly tread : 
Poor Bereaved, be comforted ; 
I will nurse the Child instead ; 
My Flowers garland Baby's head." 

Marian, Marian. 

God's unguessed reply is read : 
Tears that came not, tears that pled 
Crying darkly, here are shed : 
Soft rest you, Darling ! dead 

Marian, Marian. 



XVI. 

Our leaves are shaken from the tree, 
Our hopes laid low, 



174 THE MOTHER'S IDOL BROKEN. 

That after our Spring-nurslings, we 
May long to go. 

The warm love-nest our little Doves leave 

With helpless moan, 
As they for us at heart would grieve . 

In heaven — alone ! 

The tender Shepherd beckoningly 

Our Lambs doth hold. 
That we may take our own when He 

Makes up the fold. 



ROBERT BURNS. 

A CENTENARY SONG. 

A hundred years ago this morn, 

He came to walk our human way ; 
And we would change the Crown of Thorn 
For healing leaves to-day. 

But we can only hang our wreath 

Upon the cold white Marble's brow ! 
Tho' loud we speak, or low we breathe, 
We cannot reach him now. 

He loved us all ! He loved so much ! 

His heart of love the world could hold ; 
And now the whole wide world with such 
A love would round him fold. 

*T is long and late before it wakes, 
So kindly, yet a true world still ; 
ith a heart so laro 
A century to fill. 



Ay, tell the wondrous tale to-day, 

While songs are sung, and warm words said ; 
Tell how he wore the hodden grey, 
And won sweat-sweetened bread, 



176 ROBERT BURNS. 

With wintry welcome at the door 

Did Nature greet him to his lot ; 
Our royal Minstrel of the Poor, 
Hid in an old clay Cot. 

There, in the bonny Bairntiine dawn, 

He nestled at his Mother's knee, 
With such a face as might have drawn 
The Angels down to see 

That rosy Innocent at prayer, 

So pure and ready for the hand 
Of Her who is Guardian Angel where 
Babes sleep in Silent Land. 

There, young Love slyly came, to bring 

Rare balms that will bewitch the blood, 
To dance Avhile happy Spirits sing, 
With life in hey-day flood. 

And there she found her darling Child, 

The robust Muse of sun-browned health, 
Who nurst him up into the wild 
Young heir of all her wealth : 

And there she rockt his infant thought, 

Asleep with visions glorious 
That hallow now the Poor Man's Cot 
For evermore to us : 

Disguised Angelic Playmates were 

Those still ideal dreams of Youth, 

That drew it on to Greatness, there 

We find them shaped in truth ! 

. And there he learned the touch that thrills 
Right to the natural heart of things ; 
Struck rootage down to where Life heals 
At the eternal Springs : 



ROBERT BURNS. 177 

Before the lords of earth there stood 
A Man by Nature born and bred, 
To show us on what simple food 
A Hero may be fed. 

No gifts of gold for him, no crown 
Of Fortune ready for his brow ; 
But wrestling strength to earn his own ; 
It shines in glory now ! 



He rose up in a dawn of light 

That burst upon the olden day ; 
Many weird voices of the night 
In his music passed away. 

He caught them, Witch and Warlock ! ere 

They vanisht ; all the revelry 
Of wizard wonder we must wear 
The Mask of sleep to see. 

Droll Humours came for him to paint 

Their pictures ! straight his merry eye 
Had taken them, so queer and quaint, 
We laugh until we cry. 

Wild music on lone shingly shores ; 

Wild winds that break in seas of sound; 
Sad twilights eerie on the moors ; 
The murdered Martyr's mound ; 

Dark awful shadows trailing like 

The great skirts of the hurrying Storm ; 
Wan purple thunder-lights that strike 
The woodlands wet and warm ; 
12 



178 ROBERT BURNS. 

Meek glimpses of peculiar grace 
Where Beauty lieth in undress 
Asleep in secret hiding place, 
Out in the wilderness ; 

Those sunsets where-thro' God's good-night 

To our fair world is smiled, and felt ; 
All, all enrich his ear and sight — 
Thro' all his beino; melt. 



He knew the sorrows of poor folk, 
He felt for all their patient pain ; 
And from his clouded soul he shook 
A music soft as rain. 

For them his eyes would brim with balm, 
Dark eyes, and flashing as the levin — 
Grew at a touch as sweet and calm 
As are the eyes of heaven. 



So rich in sadness is his breast 

That tenderness, heaven-mirrc 
As lies the soft blue lake at rest 
Among the rugged hills. 



fills 



And quick as Mother's milk will rise, 

At thrill of her babe's touch, and strong, 
It heaves his heart, and floods his eyes, 
And overflows his song ; 

In Life's low ways, and starless night, 

The Poor so often have to creep 
Where Manhood may not walk full height, 
And this Kiade Robin weep. 



ROBERT BURNS. 179 

But none dare sneer, who see the tear 

In Robin Burns's honest eye, 
With all the weakness, it comes clear 
From where the Thunders lie. 

Such Ardours flash from out that dew, 

And quiver in that pearl of pain, 
The Spirit of Lightning thrilling thro' 
Its drop of tempest rain ! 



Or all the Birds the Robin he 

Is darling of the gentle Poor ; 
His nest is sacred, he goes free 
By window or by door : 

His lot is lowly, and his wings 

Are only of the homely brown, 
But in the rainy day he sings 

When gayer friends have flown, 

And hoarded up for us he brings, 

In that brave breast of bonny red, 
A gathered glory of the Springs 
And Summers long, long fled. 

Even so all Birds of Song above, 

To which the poor man smiling turns, 
The darling of his listening love 
Is gentle Robin Burns : 

His summer soul our winter warms, 

He makes a glory in our gloom ; 
His nest is safe from all the storms, 
For ever in our home. 



ISO ROBERT BURXS. 

Yes, there is such a human glow 

Of life and love in Robin's breast, 
Its warmth can melt the winter snow 
In Poverty's cold nest. 



Auld Scotland's Music wandered long, 

And wailed and wailed about the land, 
Divinely yearning in her wrong, 
And sorrowfully grand ; 

\nd many toucht responsive chords, 

But could not tell what she would say ; 
Till Robin wed her with his words, 
And they were One for aye. 

3is Ministers of Music win 

Their way where night is all so mirk, 
iTou scarce can see the Devil in 
That darkness at his work, 

Or feel the face of friends from foes ; 
But these Song-Spirits softly come, 
And lo ! a light of heaven glows 
Within the poorest home. 

On either side the hearth they glide, 
And take the empty seat of Care, 
[mmortal Presences that bide 
In blessed beauty there. 

They set us singing at our work, 

Or where no ringing voice is found ; 
Out smiles the music that may lurk 
In thoughts too fine for sound. 



ROBERT BURNS. 181 

They weave some pictured tints that shine 

Luminous in life's cold prey woof; 
They make the vine of Patience twine 
About the barest roof. 

More sweet his songs, to him who plods 

Shut up in smoky city prison, 

Than to the caged Lark cool sods 

Cut ere the sun be risen. 

The Soldier feels them as a spring 
Of healing mid the Indian sand ; 
They gush within him, and they bring 
Such news of the old land ! 

With them the Sailor warms his heart, 

Out on the bitter wintry sea ; 
With them our serfs ennobled start 
P the knighthood of the Free ! 

Ah, how some old sweet Cradle-song 

The wayward wandering heart still brings 
Home ! home again, with ties as strong 
As Love's own leading-strings. 

We hug the Homestead, and more near 

The fresh and fonder tendrils twine 
To make our clasp more close for fear 
Our dear ones we may tine. 



When Hesper thro' some shady nook 

Sparkles on Lovers face to face, 
Where droopt lids shade a burning look, 
With beauty's shyer grace — 



182 ROBERT BURNS. 

And holy is the hour for love, 

And all so silent comes the Night, 
Lest even a breath of faerie move 
That poise so feather light — 

Where two hearts weigh, to blight or bless, 

Till swarming like a summer hive, 
The inner world of happiness 
With music grows alive — 

There as Life aches so, heart in heart, 
And hand in hand so fondly yeai-ns, 
Love shakes his wings, and soars and sings 
Some sonsr of Robin Burns. 



Think how those Heroes, true till death, 

In Lucknow listened thro' the strife, 
And held what seemed their latest breath 
They had to draw in life, 

To hear the old Scots' Music dear 

Ask, down the battle pauses brief, 
As Havelock's men, with fire and cheer, 
Swept in to their relief — 

" Should auld acquaintance be forgot V 

Thro' flaming hell we come ! we come ! 
To keep that pledge, not given for nought, 
Around the hearth at home ; 

" We 7/ take a cup o' kindness " here, 

For Scotland yet, and Auld Lang Syne ; 
Ay, tho' that cup be filled with dear 
Heart's blood instead of wine ; 



( 



ROBERT BURNS. 183 

" And here's a hand, my trusty friend" 

And then it seemed the dear old Land 
Did burst their tomb, the death-shroud rend, 
And clasp them with her hand. 



How dearly Robin lo'ed the land 

That gave such gallant heroes birth ; 
Its wee blue bit of heaven, and 
Its dear green nook of earth. 

And dearer is the purple heath, 

The bonny broom of beamless gold ; 
And sweeter is the mellow breath. 
Of Autumn on the wold ! 

Where he once lookt with glorious gaze, 

In all our way-side wanderings, 
Shy Beauty lifts her veil of haze, 
And smiles in common things. 

The Daisy opes its eye at dawn, 

And straight from Nature's heart so true, 
The tear of Burns peeps sparkling ! one 
Immortal drop of dew ! 

With eyes a thought more tender, we 

Look on all dumb and helpless things ; 
In his large love they stand, as He 
Had sheltered them with wings. 

Down by the singing burn we greet 

His voice of love and liberty ; 
High on the bleak hill-side we meet 
His Spirit blythe and free ! 



184 ROBERT BURNS. 

And on this land should Foe e'er tread, 

He will fight for it at oar side, 
Flame on our Banners overhead, 
In songs of victory ride. 



A Hundred years ago To-day, 

The great and glorious Stranger came; 
Men wondered as he went his way 
A wild and wandering flame. 

The fiercer fire of life confined, 

With higher wave 'twill heave and break, 
And higher should the mountain mind 
Thrust up its star ward peak : 

But often is the kindling clay 

With its red lightnings rent and riven, 
And Earth holds up a wreck to pray 
For healing hand of Heaven. 

Around his soul more sternly warred 

The powers that smite for Wrong and Right 
And thunder-scathed and battle-scarred, 
Death bore him from the fight. 

But now we recognise in him, 

One of the high and shining race ; 
All gone the mortal mists that dim 
The fair immortal face. 

The splendour of a thousand Suns 
Is shining ! and the tearful rain 
No more with passionate pathos runs, 
And there is no more pain. 



ROBERT BURNS. 185 

The sorrow and suffering, soil and shame 

All gone ! all far away have passed ; 
He sitteth in the heavens of fame, 
Quietly crowned at last. 

The prowling Ghoul hath left his grave, 

Husht is the praying Pharisee ; 
His frailties fade, his Virtues brave 
Shall work immortally. 

The Spots on this side of our Star, 

We saw because it burned so bright ; 
But on the other side they are 
All lost in greater light. 



Weep, weep exulting tears that he, 

The lowly born, the Peasant's son, 
Hath wrought for us imperishably ; 
A peerless place hath won ! 

And such a Crown to bind thy brow, 

Thy glorious Child hath gained for thee, 
Thou grey old nurse of Heroes ! thou 
Proud Mother, Poverty ! 

Look up ! and let the big tears be 

Triumphant toucht with sparks of pride ; 
Look up ! in his great glory we 
Are also glorified. 

Or weep the tear that Pity wrings 

To think his brightness he should dim ; 
Then 't is the tear of sorrow brings 
Us nearer unto him : 



186 ROBERT BURNS. 

'T is here we touch his garment, here 

The poorest or the frailest earns 

The right to call him kinsman dear, 

Our Brother, Robin Burns. 

In fires of suffering far more fair 

We forge the precious bond of love ; 
Ah, Robin, if God hear our prayer 
'T is all made well above. 

And you who comforted His Poor 
In this world, have eternal home 
With those He comforteth, His Poor ! 
In all the world to come. 

Dear Highland Mary went before 

To plead for you in saintly sooth, 
Whom she remembered when you wore 
The purity of Youth. 

With those high Bards who live for aye, 
Your faults and failings all forgiven — 
May there be festival to-day, 

And a great joy in Heaven ! 

The truth afar off found at last ; 
The triumph rung impetuously 
Thro' all that Crystal Palace vast 
Of white Eternity. 



Ah, Robin, could you but return 

Once more, how changed it all would be ! 
The heart of this wide world doth yearn 
To take you welcomingly 



ROBERT BURNS. 1S7 

Warm eyes would shine at windows ; quick 
Warm hands would greet you at the door, 
Where oft they let you pass heart sick, 
So heedlessly of yore ! 

And they would have you wear the Crown 
Who bade you bear the crushing cross ; 
Their glorious gain was all unknown, 
Without the bitter loss : 

The cup you carried was so filled, 

The pressing crowd so eager round, 
Dragged down your lifted arm, and spilled 
Such dear drops on the ground ! 

How we would comfort your distress, 

Would see you smile as once you smiled, 
And hold your hands in silentness, 
Strong man and little child ! 

Your poor heart heaving like the waves 

Of seas that moan for evermore, 
And try to creep into the caves 
Of Rest, but find no shore — 

Poor heart ! come rest thee from the strife ; 

Come, rest thee, rest thee in the calm, 
We 'd cry : come bathe thy weary life 
In Love's immortal balm ! 



We cannot see your face, Robin ! 

Your flashing lip ! your fearless brow ; 
We cannot hear your voice, Robin ! 
But you are with us now : 



188 TO A BEREAVED FRIEND. 

Altho' the mortal face is dark 

Behind the veil of spirit-wings, 
You draw us up as Heaven the Lark 
When its music in him sings. 

With tender awe we feel you near, 
You make our lifted faces shine ; 
You brim our cup with kindness here, 
For sake of Auld Lang Syne. 

We are one at heart as Britain's sons, 

Because you join our clasping hands, 
While one electric feeling runs 
Thro' all the English lands. 

And near or far where Britons band, 

To-day the leal and true heart turns 
More fondly to the fatherland 
For love of Robin Burns. 



TO A BEREAVED FRIEND. 

God comfort you, my Friend, God comfort you . 
How mighty, how immeasurable your loss 
I can but dimly know ; yet I have learned 
That only the most precious die so soon. 
1 can but stand without, and dare not thrust 
My hand betwixt the curtains of your grief; 
I cannot reach you sitting in the dark 
Of that lone desert where the silence stuns, 
And sound of sobbing would be kind relief. 
But might I speak some word that Avith a touch 
Should make your cup of sorrow overbrim 
In tears that suck the sting from out the soul ! 
I too have felt the gloom that brings heaven near, 
The love whose kissing are all unreturned, 



TO A BEREAVED FKIEND. 189 

And longed to lie down with the quiet dead 

And share their long sweet rest. I too have known 

This strain and ci'ack of heart-strings, this wild 

whirl 
And wallow of sense in which the soul seems 

drowned. 
You are the husband of an angel, I 
Have two sweet Babes in bliss. We are very- 
poor 
On earth, my Friend, but very rich in Heaven. 
Two years ago you comforted my loss ; 
One year ago I sang your wedding song, 
And now She is not ! She who had only lookt 
On life thro' coloured windows of her dreams! 
All in the softest, sweetest breath of God 
The bud of her dear beauty seemed to have blown, 
Your one-year darling who but sprang, and died, 
And left the fragrance of her memory, 
A blessed memory and a blessed hope ! 
She had the shy grace of a woodland flower ; 
In her Love veiled his look with timid wings ; 
And her eyes deepened with a sadness rich, 
As tho' the mountain-tops of heaven-toucht thought 
Made mirrored shadows in their lakes of light. 
Only a brief while did she wear the mask 
Of flesh that kept the fond immortal face 
Without a stain of earth or soil of time, 
And now her Nun-like spirit takes the veil 
In Heaven's cloistral calm. Look up, my friend, 
And bravely bear the mantle of her pain, 
Which fell from her for you to wear for her ! 
Look up, my friend, and may one blessed glimpse 
Of all her glory touch your tears with light ! 
Only in heaven can the dark grow starry, 
Only in heaven comes the wished-for dawn. 
She liveth in the sight of Him that sees 
You also ; Ye are one still in God's eye 
That from his picture of the Universe 
Turns on us in whatever worlds we move. 



190 LONG EXPECTED. 



LONG EXPECTED. 



many and many a day before we met, 

1 knew some spirit walkt the world alone, 
Awaiting the Beloved from afar; 
And I was the anointed chosen one 

Of all the world to crown her queenly brows 
With the imperial crown of human love, 
And light its glory in her happy look. 
I saw not with mine eyes so full of tears, 
But heard Faith's low sweet singing in the night, 
And, groping thro' the darkness, toucht God's hand. 
I knew my sunshine somewhere warm'd the world, 
Tho' I trode darkling in a perilous way ; 
And I should reach it in His own good time 
Who sendeth sun, and dew, and love for all: 
My heart might toil on blindly, but, Like earth, 
It kept sure footing thro' the thickest gloom. 
Earth, with her many voices, talkt of thee! — 
Low winds, and whispering leaves, and piping 

birds ; 
The amorous sunlight, and the virgin dews ; 
Eve's crimson air and light of twinkling gold ; 
Spring's kindled greenery, and her breath of balm ; 
The (lance of happiness in summer woods, 
To silver dulcimer of sunny rain. 
Thine eyes oped with their rainy lights, and laugh- 
ters, 
In April's tearful heaven 6f tender blue, 
With all the changeful beauty melting thro' them, 
And Dawn and Sunset ended in thy face. 
And standing as in God's own presence-chamber, 
When silence lay like sleep upon the world, 
And it seem'd rich to die, alone with Night, 
Like Moses 'neath the kisses of God's lips ! 
The Stars have trembled thro' the holy hush, 
And smiled down tenderly, and read to me 



LONG EXPECTED. 191 

The love hid for me in a budding breast, 
Like incense folded in a young flower's heart. 
Strong as a sea-swell came the wave of wings, 
Strange trouble trembled thro' my inner depths, 
And answering wings have sprung within my soul: 
And from the dumb waste places of the dark, 
A voice has breathed, "She comes!" and ebb'd 

again ; 
While all my life stood listening for thy coming. 
O, I have guess'd thy weird invisible presence, 
And felt it in the beating of my heart. 
When all was dark within, sweet thoughts would 

come. 
As starry guests come golden down the gloom, 
And thro' Night's lattice smile a rare delight : 
While, lifted for the dear and distant Dawn, 
The face of all things wore a happy light, 
Like those dream-smiles which are the speech of 

Sleep. 
Thus Love lived on, and strengthen'd with the days, 
Lit by its own true light within my heart, 
Like a live diamond burning in the dark. 
Then came there One, a mirage of the Dawn : 
She swam on towards me sumptuous in her triumph, 
Voluptuously upborne, like Aphrodite 
Upon a meadowy swell of emerald sea. 
A ripe, serene, smile-affluent graciousness 
Hung like a shifting radiance on her motion, 
As feathered flames upon the Dove's neck burn. 
Her lip might Hush a wrinkled life in bloom ! 
Her eyes were an omnipotence of love ! 
" O eyes ! " I said, " if such your glories be, 
Sure 'tis a warm heart feedeth ye with light !" 
The silver throbbing of her laughter pulst 
The air with music rich and resonant, — 
As, from the deep heart of a summer night, 
Some bird with sudden sparklings of fine sound 
Strikes all the startled stillness into song. 
And from her sumptuous wealth of golden hair 



192 LONG EXPECT KD. 

Down to the delicate, pearly finger-tip, 

Fresh beauty trembled from its thousand springs : 

And standing in the outer porch of life, 

All eager for the templed mysteries, 

With a rich heart as full of fragrant love 

As May's musk-roses are of morning's wine, 

What marvel if I question'd not her brow, 

For the flame-signet of the Hand divine, 

Or gauged it for the crown of my large love ? 

I plunged to clutch the pearl of her babbling 

beauty, 
Like some swift diver in a shallow stream, 
That smites his life out on its heart of stone. 
Ah ! how my life did run with fire and tears ! 
With what a Titan-pulse my love did beat ! 
But she, rose-warm without, — God pity her ! — 
Was cold at heart as snow in last year's hest, 
And struck like death into my burning brain. 
My tears, that rain'd out life, she froze in falling, 
And wore them, jewel-like, to deck her triumph ! 
But love is never lost, tho' hearts run waste ; 
Its tides may gush 'mid swirling, swathing deserts, 
Where no green leaf drinks up the precious life : 
Yet love doth evermore enrich itself, — 
Its bitterest waters run some golden sands ! 
No star goes down but climbs in other skies ; 
The flower of Sunset folds its glory up, 
To burst again from out the heart of Dawn ; 
And love is never lost, tho' hearts run waste, 
And sorrow makes the chasten'd heart a seer ; 
The deepest dark reveals the starriest hope, 
And Faith can trust her heaven behind the veil. 



WOOED AND WON. 193 



WOOED AND WON. 

The plough of Time breaks up our Eden-land, 
And tramples down its flowery virgin prime. 
Yet thro' the dust of ages living shoots 
O' the old immortal seed start in the furrows ; 
And, where Love looketh on with glorious eye, 
These quicken'd germs of everlastingness 
Flower lusty, as of old in Paradise ! 
And blessings on the starry ehance of love ! — 
And blessings on the morn of merry May ! 
That led my footsteps to your beeehen bower. 
Thus hangs the picture in my mind, sweet Wife ! 
Clear as a Millais in its tint and tone. 
Nature went by me with her glorious shows. 
The birds were singing on the blossoming sprays, 
With Love's sweet mystery stirring at their hearts, 
Like first spring-motions in the veins o' the flowers. 
A light of green laught up the shining hills, 
That rounded through the mellowing, gloating air, 
As their big hearts heaved to some heart beyond, 
Or strove with inner yearnings for the crown 
Of purple rondure smiling there in heaven ! 
The Flowers were forth in all their conquering 

beauty, 
And, winking in their Mother Earth's old face, 
Said, all her children should have happy hearts. 
Deeper and deeper in the wood's green gloom 
I nestled tor the fever at life's core : 
And thirstily my heart was drinking in 
Rich overflowings of some Cushat's love ; 
When lo ! the air instinct with glory grew, 
As if the world, while on her starry journey, 
Found sudden harbour in the clime of heaven. 
Upon a primrose bank you sat, — a sight 
To couch the old blind sorrow of my soul ! 
A sweet, new blossom of Humanity, 
13 



194 WOOED AND WON. 

Fresh fallen from God's own home to flower on 

earth. 
A golden burst of sunbeams glinted through 
The verdurous roof's lush-leavy greenery, 
And on you dropt its crown of wavering light. 
Your eyes — half-shut, while through their silken 

eaves 
Trembled the secret sweetness hid at heart — 
Oped sudden at full, and wide with wonderment ! 
The sweetest eyes that ever drank sun for soul : 
As subtly tender as a summer heaven, 
Brimm'd with the beauty of a starry night ! 
Your face, so dewy fresh and wondrous fair, 
Kindled as Love transfiguringly rose 
Like heavenward martyr thro' a birth of fire ! 
The fleetest swallow-dip of a tender smile 
Ran round your mouth in thrillings ; while your 

cheek 
Dimpled, as from the arch God's finger-print, 
Out flew his signal, fluttering in a blush ! 
And when your voice broke up the air for music, 
It smote upon my startled heart as smites 
The new-born babe's first cry a mother's ear, 
Yet strangely toucht some mystic memory, 
And dimly seem'd an old familiar sound. 
That day, with an immortalizing kiss, 
You crown'd me monarch of your rich heart-world, 
Which heaved a boundless sea of love, whose tides 
Ran radiant pulsings thro' your rosy limbs. 
How the love-lights did float up in your eyes, 
Star after star from violet depths of night ! 
Dear eyes ! all craving with Love's ache and hun« 

§' er! 
And all the spirit stood in your face athirst ! 

And -from the rose-cup of your murmuring mouth 

Sweetness o'erflow'd, as from a fragrant fount. 

O kiss of life ! that oped our Eden-world ! 

The harvest of an age's wealth of bliss 

In that first kiss was reapt in one rich minute I 



THE BRIDAL. 195 

The wanton airs came breathing like the touch 
Of fragrant lips that feed the blood with flame ! 
The very earth heaved bosom-like, and heaven 
Clung round and claspt us as in glowing arms, 
To crush the wine of all your ripen'd beauty, 
Which were a fitting sacrament for death — 
Into a costly cup of life for me. 



THE BRIDAL. 

She comes ! the blushing Bridal Dawn, 
With her Auroral splendours on ! 
And green Earth never lovelier shone : 

She floateth on her azure way, 
In dainty dalliance with the May, 
Jubilant o'er the happy day ! 

Earth weareth heaven for bridal-ring, 
And the best garland of glory, Spring 
From out old Winter's world can bring. 

All in white are the hawthorn boughs, 
The green blood reddens in the Rose ! 
And every May-bud gleams or glows. 

The Apple-tree on its green bough 
Hath caught a cloud of rosy snow ; 
Up in the blue the Chestnuts blow. 

Cloud-shadow-ships swim faerily 
Over the greenery's sunny sea, 
That runs and ripples down the lea. 



The Birds, a-brooding, strive to sing, 
Feeling the life warm under the wing : 
Their love, too, blossoms with the Spring 



196 THE BRIDAL. 

The winds that make the flowers blow, 
He,avy with balm, breathe soft and low, 
A budding warmth, an amorous glow ! 

More sweet than the Sabean South, 
They kiss like some endearing mouth, 
And balm the splendours drooping drouth : 

Such a delicious feel doth flood 
The eyes, as laves the burning bud 
When cool rains feed ambrosial blood. 

O, merrily Life doth revel and reign ! 
Light in heart, and blithe in brain ; 
Running like wine in every vein. 

Alive with eyes, the Village sees 

The Bridal dawning from the trees, 

And Housewives swarm i' the sun like Bees. 

Silence sits i' the Belfry-Choir ! 
Up in the twinkling air the spire 
Throbs, golden in the bickering fire. 

The winking windows burn and blush 
With colours rare as flow and flush 
Thro' summer sunsets bloom'd and hush. 

But, enter : rarer splendours brim, 
Such mists of gold and purple swim, 
And the light falls so rich and dim. 

Even so doth Love Life's doors unbar, 
Where all the hidden glories are, 
That from the windows shine afar. 



Love's lovely t© the passers-by, 
But they who love are region'd high 
On hills of Bliss, with heaven nigh. 



THE BRIDAL. 19? 

Sumptuous as Iris, when she swims 
With rainbow robe on dainty limbs, 
The Bride's rare beauty overbrims ! 

The gazers drink rich overflows, 
Her cheek a livelier damask glows, 
And on his arm she leans more close 

A drunken joy reels in his blood, 
He wanders an enchanted wood ; 
She ranges realms of perfect good. 

Dear God ! that he alone hath grace 
To light such splendour in her face, 
And win the blessing of embrace ! 

She wears her maiden modesty 
With tearful grace toucht tenderly, 
Yet with a ripe Expectancy ! 

Her virgin veil reveals a form, 

Flowering from the bud so warm, 

It needs must break the Cestus-charm. 

Last night, with her white wedding arms, 
And thoughts that throng'd with quaint alarms, 
She trembled o'er her mirror'd charms, 

Like Eve first-glassing her new life ; 
And the Maid "startled at the Wife, 
Heart-pained with a sweet, warm strife. 

The unknown sea moans on her shore 
Of life : she hears the breakers roar ; 
But, trusting Him, she fears no more ; 

For, o'er the deep seas there is calm, 
Full as the hush of all-heaven's psalm : 
The golden goal, — the Victor's palm ! 



198 THE BRIDAL. 



And at her heart Love sits and sings, 
And broodeth warmth, begetting wings 
Shall lift her life to higher things. 

The Blessing given, the ring is on ; 
And at God's Altar radiant run 
The currents of two lives in one ! 

Husht with happiness, every sense 
Is crowded at the heart intense ; 
And silence hath such eloquence ! 

Down to his feet her meek eyes stoop, 
As there her love should pour its cup ; 
But, like a King, he lifts them up. 

Her flashing face to heaven up-turns, 
As for God's gracious kiss it yearns : 
Through all her life Hope's sunrise burns ! 

And now she trembles to his breast, 
To proudly crown his loving quest ; 
And make it aye her happy nest : 

His arms her hyacinth head caress, 
And fold her fragrant slenderness, 
With all its touching tenderness. 

Now, on heaven's coast of crystal, crown'd 
Hesper lights life's outward-bound : 
And Evening folds her purple round. 

A palace rich with glorious shows 
She maketh his life's narrow house 
To-night : but there he keeps no rouse ! 

Alone they hold their marriage-feast : 
Fresh from the Chrism of the Priest, 
He would not have the happiest jest 



WEDDED LOVE. 199 

To storm her brows with a crimson fine ; 
And, sooth, they need no wings of wine 
To waft them into Love's divine. 

So Strength and Beauty, hand-in-hand, 
Go forth into the honey'd land, 
Lit by the love-moon golden-grand, 

Where God hath built their Bridal-bower ; 
And on the top of life they tower, 
And taste of Eden's perfect hour. 

No lewd eyes o'er my shoulder look ! 
They do but ope the blessed book 
Of Marriage, in their hallowed nook. 

O, flowery be the paths they press, 
And ruddiest human fruitage bless 
Them, with a lavish loveliness ! 

Melodious move their wedded life 

Thro' shocks of time, and storms of strife, — 

Husband true, and perfect wife ! 



WEDDED LOVE. 

The summer Night comes brooding down on Earth 
As Love comes brooding down on human hearts, 
With bliss that hath no utterance save rich tears, 
She floats in fragrance down the smiling dark, 
Foldeth a kiss upon the lips of Life, 
Curtaineth into rest the weary world, 
And shuts us in with all our hid delights. 
The stars come sparkling thro' the tender gloom, 
Like dew-drops in the fields of heaven ; or tears 
That hang rich jewels on the face of Night. 



200 WEBDED LOVE. 

A spirit-feel comes down the calm, and soft 
The Flowers fold their cups like praying hands. 
And Avith droopt head await the blessing, Night 
Gives with her Motherly magnanimity. 
'T is evening with the world ; but in my soul 
The light of wedded love is still at dawn ! 
And skies my world, an everlasting Dawn. 
My heart rings out in music, like a Lark 
Hung in the charmed palace of the Morn, 
That circles singing to its mate i' the nest, 
With luminous being running o'er with song : 
So my life flutters round its mate at home ! 
There, with her eyes turn'd on her heart, 

reads 

The golden secrets written in its heaven, 
And broodeth o'er its hidden wealth of love, 
As Night i' the hush and halo of her beauty 
Bares throbbing heaven to its most tremulous 

depths, 
And broods in silence o'er her starry wealth. 
And, fingering in her bosom's soft, white nest, 
A fair babe, beautiful as Dawn in heaven, 
Made of a Mother's richest thoughts of love, — 
Lies like a smile of sunshine among lilies, 
That giveth glory — drinketh fragrant life. 
Sweet bud upon a Rose ! our plot of spring, 
And burst of bloom amid a wintry world ! 
How dear it is to mark the look of life 
Deepen, and darken, in her large, round eyes, — 
To watch the little rose put forth its leaves, 
And guess the perfumed secret of its heart ; 
To catch the silver words that come to break 
The golden silence hung like heaven around ! 
But lo, my hush of thought is thrilling, as 
A wood at night is filled with sudden song : 
Dear Wife ! with sweet, low voice, she syllables 
Some precious music hoarded in her heart, 
And 1 am flooded with melodious rain, 
Like Nature standing crown'd with sunlit showers. 



WEDDED LOVE. 201 

" As the surging heart o' the Sea yearneth ever- 
lastingly 
For the Moon, heaven-charmed by her in- 
fluence : 
And as Star to Star with love palpitateth like a 
dove, 
So my heart yearns up to his bright eminence. 

" O my Love, he seems to stand where Heaven 
leans so near at hand, 
That from other world his lineaments take 
light : 
And he fills my cup of wonder, Hooding all my 
life with splendour, 
As a glorious, golden Moon fills all the night. 

" At his violet-sweet words my heart carols like a 
bird's, 
And rich instincts burst from out it like 
heaven-flowers ; 
Wings bud in me at his kiss, all my being brims 
with bliss, 
As a valley brims with life in spring-tide 
hours. 

" O my life was dark and cold as the night-dews 
on the wold, 
Waiting to be made alive with fire of dawn ; 
Till his presence on me lighten'd, and his blessing 
on me brighten'd, 
And my life like dews lit up for heaven 
shone." 



Nay, Sweet Heart ! that should be my song, who 

search 
Love's lore in vain for meet similitudes 
To symbol what thy love hath been to me. 
The God lies prison'd in the mountain stone, 



202 WEDDED LOVE. 

The muffled Music slumbers in the strings, 

Awaiting the Deliverer's magic touch ! 

So, thou beloved ! did I wait for Thee, 

To waken at thy touch. My Tree of being 

But made blind gropings in the dark, cold earth, 

And moan'd and trembled in the wintry air, 

Stretching out naked hands to pluck at life : 

Until you came, with all your light, and warmth, 

Encircling round it like a summer heaven, 

And fed, and clad it with your fragrant beauty, 

Till budding branches burst on fire with bloom, 

And into ripe fruits mellow'd goldenlv. 

My life lay barren as a desolate moor 

That breaks, and burns, in twinkling green and 

gold, 
When Spring doth greet it with her kiss of life. 
As weary earth goes darkling thro' the night, 
So my heart toil'd on, tearful with its burthen: 
No beacon burn'd thro' all the gloom, to break 
The sea of dark, with shining piers of light : 
Then on a sudden rose the blessed Morn, 
Sun-crown'd my life, made all things beautiful, 
And gave the world its Eden-robes again. 
My spirit rose up orient with light ; 
Thy presence caught my heart up at the leap, 
Wing'd like a young world from the hands of God! 
Methought a thousand graves of buried hopes 
Could crush it not from its proud eminence. 
The Future's dim cloud-curtain rent in twain, 
And lighten'd radiant revelation : All 
Life's purpose dawn'd, as unto dying eyes 
The dark of Death doth blossom into stars. 
And since we met, thy life-long thought hath been 
To be cup-bearer of the wine of joy 
To one leal heart,, and to make rich one life. 
Pulse after pulse, thy life hath surged in mine, 
Like sea-waves hurrying up the beach to crown 
Their shore, and break in starry showers of light. 
Thou hast brought radiant sunrise every morn, 



VVEDDED LOVE. 203 

Renewing all the glory past away. 
Thy tender love hath twined about my life, 
Like the fair Woodbine wedded to the Thorn ; 
Hiding its harshness with her wealth of flowers ! 
My heart drinks inspiration at thine eyes, 
And lights my brain up as with fragrant flame : 
Sweet eyes of starry tenderness, thro' which 
The soul of some immortal sorrow looks ! 
Sorrow that addeth grace to loveliness, 
As its sad bloom enricheth blushing fruit. 
Dear Eyes ! they have a radiant Alchemy, 
And pierce my being with such quickening light 
As makes my heart a jewel-mine of love ; 
Even as the Sun strikes thro' the dark cold Earth, 
And fires her million veins with precious life. 
My Life ran like a river in rocky waj's, 
And seaward dasht, a sounding cataract! 
But thine was like a quiet lake of beauty, 
Soft-shadow'd round by gracious influences, 
That gathers silently its wealth of earth, 
And woos heaven till it melts down into it. 
They mingled: and the glory, and the calm, 
Closed round me, brooding into perfect rest. 
O blessings on thy true and tender heart ! 
How it hath gone forth like the Dove of old, 
To bring some leaf of promise in Life's deluge ! 
Thou hast a strong up-soaring tendency, 
That bears me God-ward, as the stalwart oak 
Uplifts the clinging vine, and gives it growth. 
Thy reverent heart familiarly doth take 
Unconscious clasp of high and holy things, 
Like little children playing of old with Christ; 
And trusteth where it may not understand. 
We have had sorrows, love ! and wept the tears 
That run the rose-hue from the cheek of Life ; 
But Grief hath jewels as Night hath her stars, 
And she revealeth what we ne'er had known, 
With Joy wreaths danced about o'er our blinded 
eyes. 



204 WEDDED LOVE. 

The heart is like an instrument whose strings 
Steal nobler music from Life's many frets : 
The golden threads are spun thro' Suffering's fire, 
Wherewith the marriage-robes for heaven are 

woven : 
And all the rarest hues of human life 
Take radiance, and are rainbow'd out in tears. 
Thou'rt little changed, dear love ! since first was 

wed 
To mine, the blossom of thy crimson lips; 
Thy beauty hath climaxt like a crescent Moon, 
With glory great'ning to the golden full. 
Thy flowers of spring are crown'd with summer 

fruits, 
And thou hast put a queenlier presence on 
With thy regality of Womanhood ! 
Yet Time but toucheth thee with mellowing shades 
That set thy graces in a wealthier light. 
Thy soul still looks with its rare smile of light, 
From the Gate Beautiful of its palace-home, 
Fair as the spirit of the evening Star, 
That lights its glory as a radiant porch 
To beacon earth with brighter glimpse of heaven. 
We are poor in this world's wealth, but rich in 

love ; 
And they who love feel rich in every thing. 
The heart of Ocean — thick with gems, as earth 
With blooms — is jewell'd like a Bride o' the East : 
The heart of Heaven swarms with golden worlds : 
A subtle heart of wealth hath our old world, 
And darks of diamonds, grand as nights of stars : 
•But richer is the human heart that shrines 
God's peerless wealth — th' immortal jewel Love ! 
So let us live our life: and let our love, 
Our large twin-love, bend o'er our little Babe, 
As the calm grand old heavens bend over earth, 
Revealing God's own starry thoughts and things ! 
So shall the image of our hearts' Ideal : — 
The angel nestling in her bud of life — 



WEDDED LOVE. 205 

Smile upward in the mirror of her face 

A daily beauty in our darkened ways, 

And a perpetual feast of holy things. 

O let us walk the world, so that our love 

Burn like a blessed beacon, beautiful 

Upon the walls of Life's surrounding dark. 

Ah ! what a world 't would be if love like ours 

Made heaven in human hearts, and clothed with 

smiles 
The sweet sad face of our Humanity ! 
What lives should quicken into sudden spring ! 
What flowers of glory burst their frozen soil ! 
Like the red pulse of Dawn thro' cold grey skies, 
New life should flush up in the darken'd face 
That readcth as a written epitaph 
Above the grave of beauty and of soul ! 
Love-light should glimmer on the Helot's brow, 
As mellow moonlight silvers thro' a cloud ; 
And God should come into the mirkest being, 
As Stars new-kindled, light up nights of space. 



LYRICS OF LOVE. 



TO A BELOVED ONE. 211 



TO A BELOVED ONE. 

Heaven hath its crown of Stars, the Earth 

Her glory-robe of flowers — 
The Sea its gems — the grand old Woods 

Their songs and greening showers : 
The Birds have homes, where leaves and blooms 

In beauty wreathe above ; 
High yearning hearts, their rainbow-dream — 

And we, Sweet ! we have love. 

We walk not with the jewell'd Great, 

Where Love's dear name is sold ; 
Yet have we wealth we would not give 

For all their world of gold ! 
We revel not in Corn and Wine, 

Yet have we from above 
Manna divine, and we '11 not pine, 

While we may live and love. 

There 's sorrow for the toiling poor, 

On Misery's bosom nursed : 
Rich robes for ragged souls, and Crowns 

For branded brows Cain-curst ! 
But Cherubim, with clasping wings, 

Ever about us be, 
And, happiest of God's happy things ! 

There 's love for you and me. 

Thy lips, that kiss till death, have turn'd 

Life's water into wine ; 
The sweet life melting thro' thy looks, 

Hath made my life divine. 
All Love's dear promise hath been kept, 

Since thou to me wert given ; 
A ladder for my soul to climb, 

And summer hio-h in heaven. 



212 WHEN I COME HOME. 

I know, dear heart ! that in our lot 

May mingle tears and sorrow ; 
But, Love's rich Rainbow 's built from tears 

To-day, with smiles To-morrow. 
The sunshine from our sky may die, 

The greenness from Life's tree, 
But ever, 'mid the warring storm, 

Thy nest shall shelter'd be. 

I see thee ! Ararat of my life, 

Smiling the waves above ! 
Thou hail'st me Vietor in the strife, 

And beacon'st me with love. 
The world may never know, dear heart ! 

What I have found in thee ; 
But, tho' nought to the world, dear heart ! 

Thou 'rt all the world to me. 



WHEN I COME HOME. 

Around me Life's hell of fierce Ardours burns, 
When I come home, when I come home ; 

Over me Heaven with its starry heart yearns, 
When I come home, when I come home. 

For a feast of Gods garnisht, the palace of Night 
-At a thousand star-windows is throbbing with light 

London makes mirth ! but I know God hears 

The sobs i' the dark, and the dropping of tears ; 

For I feel that lie listens down Night's great dome . 

When I come home, when I come home ; 
Home, home, when I come home, 
Far i' the night when I come home. 

I walk under Night's triumphal arch, 

When I come home, when I come home ; 



WHEN I COME HOME. 213 

Exulting with life like a Conqueror's march, 

When I come home, when I come home. 
I pass by the rich-chamber'd mansions that shine, 
O'erflowing with splendour like goblets with wine : 
I have fought, I have vanquisht the dragon of Toil, 
And before me my golden Hesperides smile ! 
And O but Love's flowers make rich the gloam, 
When I come home, when I come home ! 
Home, home, when I come home, 
Far i' the night when I come home. 

O the sweet, merry mouths up-turn'd to be kist, 
When I come home, when I come home ! 

How the younglings yearn from the hungry nest, 
When I come home, when I come home ! 

My weary, worn heart into sweetness is stirr'd, 

And it dances and sings like a singing Bird, 

On the branch nighest heaven, — a-top of my life : 

As I clasp my winsome, wooing Wife ! 

And her pale cheek with rich, tender passion doth 
bloom, 

When I come home, when I come home ; 
Home, home, when I come home, 
Far i' the night when I come home. 

Clouds furl off the shining face of my life, 

When I come home, when I come home, 
And leave heaven bare on her bosom, sweet Wife, 

When I come home, when I come home. 
With her brave smiling Energies, — Faith warn 

and bright, — 
With love glorified and serenely alight, — 
With her womanly beauty and queenly calm, 
She steals to my heart with a blessing of balm ; 
And O but the wine of Love sparkles with foam, 
When I come home, when I come home ! 
Home, home, when I come home, 
Far i' the night when I come home. 



214 ICHABOD. 



ICHABOD. 



Seven Summers' Suns have set ! and earth is once 

more sweetly flooded 
With fragrance, for the virgin-leaves and violet- 
banks have budded : 
Heaven claspeth Earth, as round the heart first 

broodeth Love's rich glow ; 
A blush of Flowers is mantling where the lush 

green grasses grow ! 
All things feel summering sunward, golden tides 

flood down the air, 
AVhich burns, as Angel-visitants had left a glory 

there ! 
But darkness on my aching spirit shrouds the merry 

shine, — 
I long to feel a gush of Spring in this' poor heart of 

mine. 

Morn opes Heaven's secret portal, back the golden 

gates are drawn, 
And all the fields of glory blossom with the crimson 

Dawn : 
But never comes thy clasping hand, or carol of thy 

lips, 
That made my heart soar like a God, when burst- 
ing Death's eclipse. 
Sweet voice ! it came like saintly music, quiring 

angels make, 
When pain sat heavy on my brow, and heart was 

like to break : 
Methought such love gave wings to climb some 

starry throne to win ; 
Thou didst so lift my life's horizon — letting heaven 

in. 



■ 



ICHABOD. 215 

I'm thinking, darling, of the days when life was all 

divine, 
And love was aye the silver chord that bound my 

heart to thine ; 
When life hloom'd at thy coming, as the green earth 

greets the sun, 
And, like two dew-drops in a kiss, our twin souls 

wed in one. 
Ah ! still I feel ye at my heart ! and 'mid the stir 

and strife, 
Ye sometimes lead my feet to walk the anael-side 

of Life ! 
The magic music yearns within, as unto thee I 

turn, 
And those brave eyes, a-blaze with soul, thro' all 

my being burn. 

Come back, — come back; I long to clasp thee in 

these arms, mine own ; 
Lavish my heart upon thy lips, and make my love 

the Crown 
And Arc of Triumph to thy life. Why tarry ? 

Time hath cast 
Strange shadows on my spirit since we met and 

mingled last ! 
Yet there be joys to crown thee with ; the sunshine 

and the sweet 
Are hived, like honey, in my heart, to share them 

when we meet: 
How I have hoarded up my life ! how tenderly I 

strove 
To make my heart fit home for thee, its nestling 

Bird of love ! 

God bless thee ! once the radiant world thy beauty 

crownlike wore, 
But life hath lost the strange sweet feel that cometh 



never more 



216 HUSBAND AND WIFE. 

The flowers will bud again in spring, and happy 

birds make love, 
With melting hearts, a-brooding o'er their passion 

in the grove. 
But thou wilt never more come back, to clothe my 

heart with spring; 
Dear God ! Love's sweetest chord is turn'd to Pain's 

most jarring string ! 
The Glory hath departed ! and my spirit pants to 

g° 
Where 'mid Life's troubled waters, 'twill not see 
the wreck below. 



HUSBAND AND WIFE. 

O, proudly I stood in the rare Sunrise, 

As the daAvn of your beauty brake ; 
But I fear'd for the storm, as I lookt at the skies, 

And trembled for your sweet sake ! 
And O, may the evil days come not, I said, 

As I yearn 'd o'er my tender blossom ! 
Strong arm of love ! shelter the dear one's head ; 

And I nestled you in my bosom. 
May the tears never dim the love-light of her eye, — 

May her Life be all Spring-weather! — 
Was the prayer of my heart, ere you, Love, and I, 

Were Husband and Wife together. 

But the suns will shine, and the rains will fall, 

On the loftiest, lowliest spot ! 
And there 's mourning and merriment mingled for 
all 
That inherit the human lot. 
So we 've suffer'd and sorrow'd and grown more 
strong, 
Heart-to-heart, side-to-side, we have striven, 



HUSBAND AND WIFE. 217 

With the love that makes summer-tide all the yeai 
long, 

And the heart that is its own heaven ! 
We clung the more close as the storm swept by, 

And kept the nest warm in cold weather ; 
And seldom we 've falter'd since you, Love, and I, 

Have been Husband and Wife together ! 

Like the sweet happy flowers of the wilderness, 

You have dwelt life to life with Nature ; 
And caught the wild beauty and grace of her ways, 

And grown to her heavenlier stature ! 
In prospering calm, and in quickening strife, 

Hath your womanly worth unfolden ; 
And sunshine and show'r have enricht your life, 

And ripen'd its harvest golden. 
There is good in the grimmest cloud o' the sky, 

There are blessings in wintry weather: 
Even Grief hath its glory, since you, Love, and I, 

Have been Husband and Wife together. 

O, Life is not perfect with Love's first kiss : 

Who would win the blessing must wrestle ; 
And the deeper the sorrow, the dearer the bliss, 

That in its rich core may nestle ! 
Our Angels oft greet us in tearful guise, 

And our saviours come in sorrow : 
While the murkiest midnight that frowns from the 
skies, 

Is at heart a radiant Morrow ! 
We laugh and we cry, we sing and we sigh, 

And Life will have wintry weather ! 
So we '11 hope, and love on, since you, Love, and I, 

Are Husband and Wife together. 



218 LOVE ME. 



LOVE ME. 

" All dear as the feeling when first-flowers start, 

Thou cam'st in thy musical lightness :* 
And the cloud Avept itself in rich rain on my heart, 

That had hidden thy beauty and brightness. 
'T was as Life's topmost window oped suddenly, 
bright 

With the glittering face of an Angel, 
The sweet secret out-flasht on thy forehead of light, 

And I knew thee, my own love-Evangel ! 
O how shall I crown thee, Love, on my heart's 
throne, 

Thou art so far, far above me ? " 
And aye, as her dear eyes lookt love in my own, 

The Maiden answered, " Love me." 

" My Beloved is fair as some beautiful star 

That walks in an air of glory ; 
And her large-hearted looks and her lineaments 
are 

As some Queen's of the old Greek story ! 
There 's never night now, since those dear eyes of 
thine 

Smiled on me their soft sweet splendour, 
And I drank of the wine of thy kisses divine : 

O what for such love shall I render ? " 
And aye, as I knelt at my true Love's shrine, 

She bent in her beauty above me : 
And aye, as her sweet eyes lookt love into mine, 

The Maiden answered, " Love me." 

" O could my heart, mountain-region'd in bliss, 
Thy lite with Love's affluence dower, 

Thou shouldst have heaven in a world e'en like 
this, 
And the joy of a life in each hour ! 



LOVE-IN-IDLENESS. 219 

Thou shouldst go forth like a conquering Queen, 

Reaping rich heartf'uls of treasure, 
Nor strive where the worn of heart wearily glean 

But handfuls, in harvesting pleasure." 
And aye, as I knelt at my true Love's shrine, 

She bent in her beauty above me : 
And aye, as her sweet eyes lookt love into mine, 

The Maiden answered, " Love me." 



LOVE-IN-IDLENESS. 

We sit serenely 'neath the night, 
As still as stars with swift delight ; 
In tears, that show how in Life's deep 
The hidden pearls of beauty sleep ! 
And quiet, as of sleeping trees, 
And silence, as of sleeping seas. 
The channels of our bliss run fill'd, 
Their faintest happy murmur stilFd. 

Upon my forehead rests thy palm, 
And on my spirit rests thy calm. 
I cannot see thy cheek, but know 
Its sea of rose-bloom hath a glow 
Like ruby light, and richly lies 
The dew i' the shadow of thine eyes : 
Deep eyes ! like wells of tenderness, 
That ask how they may soothliest bless. 

Warm fragrance like the soul o' the South, 
Is round us, and thy damask mouth 
With the sweet spirit of its breath, 
Dissolves me in delicious death. 
Musk-roses blowing in the gloom, 
Drop fragrance fainting in the room, 
Such sensuous sadness fills the air, 
Ripe life a bloom of dew doth wear 



220 * soxg. 

The harping hand hath dull'd the lyre 
Of thrilling heartstrings — by their fire 
That droops, the dreamy Passions doze 
In large luxuriance of repose. 
While we our fields of pleasure reap, 
Our Babes lie in the wood of Sleep : 
One, first love's dream of beauty wrought ! 
One, the more perfect afterthought. 

We sit with silent glory crown'd, 

And Love's arms wound like heaven round 

Or on rich clouds of fragrance swim 

The summer dusk so cool and dim. 

1 only see — that thou art near ; 

I only feel — I have thee dear ! 

I only hear thy beating heart, 

And know that we can never part. 



SONG. 

O shy and simple Village Girl, 

With daisy-drooping eyes ; 
Like light asleep within the pearl, 

Love in your young life lies. 
A hundi-ed times in meadow and lane 

With careless hearts we walkt ; 
But we shall never meet again, 

And talk as we have talkt. 
All in a moment life was erost, 

In a fairy spell I 'in bound ; 
Yet fear to tell you what I 've lost, 

Or know what I have found. 

When last 1 met you, tearful meek 
The emerald gloaming came ; 

Some veil fell from you, in your cheek 
The live rose was aflame ! 



SONG. 221 



So distant and so dear you grew, 

More near, yet more estranged, 
And at your parting touch I knew 

How all the world was changed. 
All in a moment life was crost, 

In a fairy spell I 'm bound ; 
Yet fear to tell you what I 've lost, 

Or know what I have found. 



I walk in a dream by day ; 
My silent heart breaks into song, 

And the prayerless kneels to pray. 
Ten times a day the hot tears start, 

For very pride of you : 
Would God you were safe at home in my heart, 

To rest the rough world through. 
All in a moment life was crost, 

In a fairy spell I 'm bound ; 
Yet fear to tell you what I 've lost, 

Or know what I have found. 

My heart ! She comes by lane and style, 

With glances shy and sweet ; 
Making the sunlight with her smile, 

And music with her feet. 
Ah ! could I clasp her in mine arm 

Until she named the hour 
When life should move from charm to charm, 

And love from flower to flower ! 
All in a moment life was crost, 

In a fairy spell I 'in bound ; 
Yet fear to tell her what 1 've lost, 

Or know what I have found. 



222 A BALLAD OF THE OLD TIME. 



A BALLAD OF THE OLD TIME. 

Sweet Night, drop down from thy starry bower 

Thy influence dewy mild ; 
Softly bend over my love's tender flower, 

As a Mother bends over her child. 
Hush the hills in a deep, dark dream ; 

To slumber stretch valley and lea; 
Fold over all thy purple and pall, 

And bring my Love to me. 

You white witching Moon, with your beautiful 
smile ; 

You flowers that fondle his feet ; 
You weird wee Women of fairyland, wile 

Not my Love with your kisses sweet. 
For him my bower in the old gray tower 

Is dighted daintilie : 
All gentle Powers that walk the night-hours, 

Hasten my Love to me. 

I count my love's rosary over again, 

With its feelings and fancies and fears ; 
Till it breaks in my brain with the tension of pain, 

And my pearls are but trembling tears ! 
I sorrow and sing with the thorn at my breast, 

But mine eyes watch imweariedly : 
Come crown them, and calm them, and kiss them 
to rest ; 

Dear my Love, hurry to me. 

The ripe swelling buds that are quick with spring, 

Will peep from their silken fold; 
And my broidered belt is too short to cling 

Round my waist with its girdling gold. 
But my Love he will bring the gay gold ring; 

Base-born his Babe shall not be ! 



MY BONNY LADY. 

Eve gave us her fair Daughters to restore 
The Eden that their Mother lost of yore ; 
They lead us thro' the Angel-guarded door, 
And where they smile it blooms for evermore. 
Dearest of all Eve's Daughters dear is she 
Who makes an Eden in my Home for me ; 

My Bonny Lady. 

No seeming beauty perilous to know, 
Like dream of ripeness on the sour sloe, 
But sweet to the true heart as summer fruit, 
And sound and strong to love's most secret root; 
A soul made human by its kindling life ! 
A woman ripened to the perfect Wife ! 

My Bonny Lady. 

She grows in graces as the flowers bloom ; 
Her robe of beauty woven in Heaven's loom ! 
She wears her jewels in her lips and eyes : 
Diamond sparks ! warm rubies ! pearls of price ! 
And see what shapely sweetness may be shown, 
Bright budding from a simple morning gown ! 

My Bonny Lady. 

Upon her dear brow is no band of care 

That binds the heavy burden souls must bear; 

The dew of childhood's Heaven yet lingering lies 

Cool in the shadows of her morning eyes ; 

So may some spirit in its brightness wait 

With welcome at the beautiful heaven gate. 

My Bonny Lady. 
14 



224 S WEET-AXD - T W EX T Y. 

When I Avas blest with thee, Love ! 
There burn'd no beauty on the trees, 
There woke no song of birds or bees, 
But Love's cup for us held no lees, 

And I was blest with thee, Love. 

Then grand and golden fancies spring 
From out my heart on splendid wing, 
Like Chrysalis from Life's wintering, — 

Burst bright and summeringly, Love! 
And as a Chief of battle lost 
Counts, and recounts his stricken host, 
Stands tearful Memory making most 

Of all that 's toucht with thee, Love. 

Perchance in Pleasure's brilliant bower 
Thy heart may half forget Love's power, 
But at this still and starry hour 

Does it not turn to me, Love ? 
O, by all pangs for thy sweet sake, 
In my deep love thy heart-thirst slake, 
Or, all-too-full, my heart must break : 

Break ! break ! with loving thee, Love ! 



SWEET-AND-TWENTY. 

Like a Lady from a far land, 

Came my true Love brave to see ! 

As to heaven its rainbow garland, 
Is her beauty rich to me. 

Nearest to my heart I wear her ; 

As a bark the waves above — 
O so proudly do I bear her 

On the bosom of my love. 



A. LYRIC OF LOVE. 225 

Or as some dim lake may mirror 
One fair star that shines above, 

So my life — aye growing clearer — • 
Holds this tremulous star of love. 



Look you, how she cometh, trilling 
Out her gay heart's bird-like bliss! 

Merry as a May-morn, thrilling 
With the dew and sunshine's kiss. 



Ruddy gossips of her beauty 

Are her twin cheeks : and her mouth 
In its ripe warmth smileth, fruity 

As a garden of the south. 

Ha ! my precious Sweet-and-Twenty, 
Husband up your virgin pride ! 

Just a month and this dear, dainty 
Thing shall be my wedded Bride. 



A LYRIC OF LOVE. 

The Bird that nestles nearest earth, 

To Heaven's gate nighest sings ; 
And loving thee, my lowly life 

Doth mount on Lark-like wings ! 
Thine eyes are starry promises: 

And affluent above 
AH measure in its blessing, is 

The largess of thy love. 

Merry as laughter 'mong the hills, 
Spring dances at my heart ! 

And at my wooing, Nature's soul 
Into her face will start ! 

The Queen-moon, in her starry bower, 
15 



226 kisses. 

Looks happier for our love: 
A dewier splendour fills the flower, 
And mellower coos the Dove. 

My heart may sometimes blind mine eyes 

With utterance of tears, 
But feels no pang for thee, Belov'd ! 

But all the more endears : 
And if life comes with cross and care 

Unknown in years of yore, 
I know thou 'It half the burthen bear, 

And I am strong once more. 

Ah ! now I see my life was shorn, 

That, like the forest-brook 
When leaves are shed, my darkling soul 

Up in heaven's face might look ! 
And blessings on the storm that gave 

Me haven on thy breast, 
Where life hath climaxt like a wave 

That breaks in perfect rest. 



KISSES. 

Oxe kiss more, Sweet ! 
Soft as voluptuous wind of the west, 
Or silkenest surge of thy balmy breast, 
Bipe lips all ruddily melting apart, 
Drink up the honey and wine of my heart! 
On all the bounds of my being let Bliss 
Break with its dear drowning sea — 

In a Kiss ! 

One kiss more, Sweet ! 
Warm as a morning sunbeam's dewy gold 
Slios in a red Rose's fragrantest fold, 



NOT I, SWEET SOUL, NOT I. 227 

Sets its green blood all a-blush, burning up 
At the fresh feel of life, in its crimson cup ! 
On all the bounds of my being let Bliss 
Break with its dear drowning sea — 
In a Kiss. 



NOT I, SWEET SOUL, NOT I. 

All glorious as a Rainbow's birth, 

She came in Spring-tide's golden hours ; 
When Heaven went hand-in-hand with Earth, 
. And May was crown'd with buds and flowers ! 
The mounting devil at my heart 

Clomb faintlier, as my life did win 
The charmed heaven, she wrought apart, 

To wake its slumbering Angel in! 
With radiant mien she trode serene, 

And past me smiling by ! 
O ! who that lookt could chance but love ? 

Not I, sweet soul, not I. 

Her budding breasts, Love's fragrant fruit, 

Peer'd out, a-yearning to be prest : 
Her voice shook all my heart's red root ! 

Yet might not break a babe's soft rest ! 
Her being mingled into mine, 

As breath of flowers doth mix and melt, 
And on her lips the honey-wine 

Was royal-rich as spikenard spilt ; 
With love a-gush, like water-brooks, 

Her heart smiled in her eye ; 
O ! who that lookt could chance but love ? 

Not I, sweet soul, not I. 

The dewy eyelids of the Dawn 
Ne'er oped such heaven as hers can show : 



228 a took man's wife. 

Love ! such dear eyes might have shone 

As jewels in some starry brow ! 
Her brow flasht glory like a shrine, 

Or lily-bell with sunburst bright ; 
Where came and went love-thoughts divine, 

As low winds walk the leaves in light : 
She wore her beauty with the grace 

Of Summer's star-clad sky ; 
O ! who that lookt could chance but love ? 

Not I, sweet soul, not I. 



A POOR MAN'S WIFE. 



And timid as trembling dove ; 
And it twinkled about me, a jewel of light, 

As she garnisht our feast of love : 
'T was the queenliest hand in all lady-land, 

And she was a poor Man's wife ! 
O ! little ye 'd think how that wee, white hand 

Could dare in the battle of Life. 

Her heart it was lowly as maiden's might be, 

But hath climb'd to heroic height, 
And burn'd like a shield in defence of me, 

On the sorest field of fight ! 
And startling as fire, it hath often flasht up 

In her eyes, the good heart and rare ! 
As she drank down her half of our bitterest cup, 

And taught me how to bear. 

Her sweet eyes that seeni'd, with their smile sub- 
lime, 

Made to look me and light me to heaven, 
They have triumph'd thro' bitter tears many a time, 

Since their love to my life was given : 






love. 229 

And the maiden-meek voice of the womanly Wife 

Still bringeth the heavens nigher; 
For it rings like the voice of God over my life, 

Aye bidding me climb up higher. 

I hardly dared think it was human, when 

I first lookt in her yearning face ; 
For it shone as the heavens had open'd then, 

And clad it with glory and grace ! 
But dearer its light of healing grew 

In our dark and desolate day, 
As the Rainbow, when heaven hath no break of 
blue, 

Smileth the storm away. 

O ! her shape was the lithest Loveliness, — 

Just an armful of heaven to enfold ! 
But the form that bends flower-like in love's 
caress, 

With the Victor's strength is souPd ! 
In her worshipful presence transfigured I stand, 

And the poor Man's English home 
She lights with the Beauty of Greece the grand, 

And the loveliest Raphael in Rome. 



LOVE. 

O Love ! Love ! Love ! 

Its glory smites our gloom, 
And, flower-like flusht with life, the heart 

Doth burgeon into bloom ! 
Sweet as the sunshine's golden kiss, 

That crowns the world anew : 
Sweet as in Roses' hearts of bliss, 

Soft, summer-dark, drops dew. 



230 I LOVE MY LOVE, ETC. 

O Love ! Love ! Love ! 

May make the brave heart ache ; 
Pulse out its lavish life, and leave 

It, mournfully to break ! 
But O how exquisite it starts 

The thoughts that bee-like cling, 
To drain the honey from young hearts, 

And leave a bleeding sting ! 

O Love ! Love ! Love ! 

Its very pain endears ! 
And every wail and weeping brings 

Some blessing on our tears ! 
Love makes our darkest days, sweet dove ! 

In golden Suns go down, 
And still we '11 clothe our hearts with love, 

And crown us with Love's crown. 



I LOVE MY LOVE, AND MY LOVE 
LOVES ME. 

The life of life's when for another we're living, 
Whose spirit responds to ours like a sweet Psal- 
ter; 
When heart-smiles are burning, and flame-words 
out-giving 
The fire we have lit on the heart's holy Al- 
tar ! 

Love, God's religion ! Love, fervid and star- 

ried ! 
The soul must be beautiful where thou art pal- 
aced ; 

1 mark where thy kiss-seal is set on the forehead, 

I know where thy dew of heaven's richliest 
ehaliced. 



I LOVE MY LOVE, ETC. 231 

That radiant brow breaketh thro' cloud and world- 
stain, 

And strong is that soul in the battle of Duty ; 
Smiling May-sunshine thro' Life's Winter-rain, 

All outer things clothing with inner world beau- 

ty! 
'T is writ in the face, whose heart singe th for 

glee, 
" I love ray Love, and my Love loves me." 

Once I was a-weary of life and the world, 

And the voice of Delight on my heart fell ac- 
curst, 
And my eyes oft with tear-drops unweetingly 
pearl'd, 
I had no one to love, tho' with Love my heart 
burst : 
Then on me a sweet dream of Paradise stole — 
Turn'd to radiance the shadows that brooded 
around me : 
And walking the gardens that Eden my soul, 
One morning, my Love, like another Eve, found 
me ; 
He lookt, and a maelstrom of joy whirled my 
bosom ; 
He smiled, and my being ran bliss to the brim : 
He spake, and my eager heart fiusht into blossom ; 
Dear Heaven ! 't was the music set to my Life's 
hymn ! 
And up went my soul to God, shouting for 

glee — 
" 1 love my Love, and my Love loves me." 

I know, Love of mine ! time may nevermore bring 

Back the lost freshness that clad my young heart: 

But, looking on thee, dear ! sweet thoughts will up- 

spring, 

As from the cold tomb the green verdure will 

start ! 



232 UNDER THE MISLETOE. 



I look in thine eyes, and, O joy to the weeper ! 
Their love-light makes sunshine of all my dark 
fears ; 
And what made my heart faint, lifts it now, a 
strong leaper ! 
The rivers of bliss flood its channels of tears. 
I had deem'd its wealth flung on sands barren and 
burning, 
And sweet 't is to find my Life's current again, 
Caught up in thy Love's precious chalice — return- 
ing 
Like dew that hath been to heaven, dropping in 
rain. 
And my heart's perpetual hymn shall be, 
" I love my Love, and my Love loves me.'* 



UNDER THE MISLETOE. 

T was on a merry Christmas night, 

A many years ago, 
I saw my Love, with dancing sight, 

As she came over the snow. 
The Elvish Holly laught above ; 

A sweeter red below ! 
When first I met with my true love, 

Under the Misletoe bough. 

Bright-headed as the merry May Dawn 

She floated down the dance : 
I thought some angel must have gone 

Our human way by chance. 
I held my hands, and caught my bliss, 

Children, I '11 show you how ! - 
And Earth toucht Heaven in a kiss, 

Under the Misletoe Bough. 






THE PATRIOT TO HIS BRIDE. 233 

Ere leaves were green we built our nest, 

The March winds whistled wild ; 
But in our love we were so blest 

Old Poverty he smiled. 
And Love the heart of Winter warmed, 

Love blossomed 'neath the snow ; 
All fairy-land in blessings swarmed 

Under the Misletoe bough. 

The storms of years have beat our Bark, 

That rocks at anchor now ; 
But She was smiling thro' the dark, 

My Angel at the prow. 
And brimming tides of love did bear 

Us over the rocks below ! 
To-night, all safe in harbour here, 

Under the Misletoe bough. 

May you, Boys, win just such a Wife ; 

Come drink the toast in wine ! 
And you, Girls, may you light a life 

As she hath brightened mine. 
Dear was the bonny Bride, and yet 

I 'm prouder of her now 
Than on the merry, merry night we met, 

Under the Misletoe bough. 



THE PATRIOT TO HIS BRIDE. 

Will you leave the fond bosom of Home, where 
Joy hath been from your earliest waking ? 

Can you give its endearments to come, where 
Life hath many a hot heart-aching ? 

Have you counted the cost to stand by me, 
In the battle I fight for Man ? 



234 THE PATRIOT TO HIS BRIDE. 

Shall your womanly love deify me, 
Who stand in the world's dark ban V 

O, a daring high soul you will need, dear love, 
To brave the life-battle with me : 

For your true heart may oftentimes bleed, dear 
love, 
And your sweet eyes dim tearfully. 

Sweet ! know you of gallant hearts perishing, — 

The fine spirits that dumbly bow ? 
For a little of Fortune's cherishing, 

They are breaking in agony now! 
And without the sunshine that life needeth, 

Alas ! Sweet ! for me and for you : 
But little the careless world heedeth 

For love like ours, tender and true ! 
O, a daring high soul you will need, dear love, 

To brave the life-battle with me : 
For your true heart may oftentimes bleed, dear 
love, 

And your sweet eyes dim tearfully. 

Well, you 've sworn, I have sworn, God hath bound 
us, 

In a covenant the world shall not part : 
I have flung my love's war-cloak around us, 

And you live in each pulse of my heart ! 
It may be our name in Earth's story 

Shall endure when we are no more ; 
For love lives while the Stars burn in glory, 

And the Flowers bud on Earth's green floor. 
But a daring high soul you will need, dear love, 

To brave the life-battle with me : 
For your true heart may oftentimes bleed, dear 
love, 

And your sweet eyes dim tearfully. 



SWEET SPIRIT OF MY LOVE. 235 



SWEET SPIRIT OF MY LOVE. 

Sweet Spirit of my love ! 
Thro' all the world we walk apart : 

Thou mayst not in my bosom lie : 
I may not press thee to my heart, 

Nor see love-thinkings light thine eye : 
Yet art thou with me. All my life 

Orbs out in thy warm beauty's sphere ; 
My bravest dreams of thee are rife, 

And colour'd with thy presence dear. 

Sweet Spirit of my love ! 
I know how beautiful thou art, 

But never tell the starry thought : 
I only whisper to my heart, 

" She lights with heaven thy earthliest spot' 
And birds that night and day rejoice, 

And fragrant winds, give back to me 
A music ringing of thy voice, 

And surge my heart's love-tide to thee. 

Sweet Spirit of my love ! 
The Spring and Summer blooin-bedight, 

That garland Earth with rainbow-showers, - 
Morn's kissing breath, and eyes of light, 

That wake in smiles the winking flowers, 
The air with honey'd fragrance fed, 

The flashing waters, — soughing tree, — 
Noon's golden glory, — sundown red, 

Aye warble into songs of thee. 

Sweet Spirit of my love ! 
When Night's soft silence clothes the earth, 

And wakes the passionate bird of love ; 
And Stars laugh out in golden mirth, 

And yearning souls divinelier move ; 



236 MATRIMONY. 

When God's breath hallows every spot, 

And, lapp'd in feeling's luxury, 
The heart's break-full of tender thought; 

Then art thou with me, still with me. 

Sweet Spirit of my love ! 
I listen for thy footfall, — feel 

Thy look is burning on me, such 
As reads my heart ; 'twill sometimes reel 

And throb, expectant for thy touch ! 
For by the voice of woods and brooks, 

And flowers with virgin-fragrance wet, 
And earnest stars with yearning looks, 

I know that we shall mingle yet. 

Sweet Spirit of my love ! 
Strange places on me smile, as thou 

Hadst pass'd, and left thy beauty's tints : 
The wild flowers even the secret know, 

And light and shade flash mystic hints. 
Meseems, like olden Gods, thou 'It come 

In cloud ; but mine anointed eyes 
Shall see the glory burn thro' gloom, ■ 

And clasp thee, Sweet ! with large surprise. 



MATRIMONY. 

Two human Stars in passing are 

Attracted as thro' Heaven they float , 

Sometimes they form a double Star, 
Sometimes they put each other out : 

And sometimes one and one make three, 

This world's most perfect trinity. 






CHILDLESS. DESERTED. 237 



CHILDLESS. 

Dark and still is our House of Life, 

The fire is burning low ; 
Our pretty ones all are gone, old Wife, 

'T is time for us to go. 
Our pretty ones all are gone to sleep, 

And happed in for the night : 
So to our bed we '11 quietly creep, 

And rest till morning light. 



DESERTED. 

Love came to me in a rosy cloud, 

With a golden glory kist ; 
And caught me up, and in heaven we rode, 

Till it melted in mournful mist. 
Gone ! gone ! is the light that shone, 

With the dream of my earlier day : 
And the wild winds moan, and alone, alone, 

I wander my weary way. 

The days come and go, and the seasons roll, — 

In their glory they pass me by ; 
And the lords of life and the happy in soul 

Walk under a smiling sky. 
And the sweet springtide comes back to us o'er 

The soothed winter sea ; 
But He will return no more, no more, 

Never come back to me. 

It were better that I lay sleeping 

With his baby upon my breast, 
Where the weary have done with their weeping, 

And the wretched are rockt to their rest. 



238 DESOLATE. 

The world is a desolate, dreary one, 
And full of sad tears at best : 

God, take back thy wandering weary one, 
Like a wounded bird home to its nest. 



DESOLATE. 

The Day goes down red darkling, 

The moaning waves dash out the light, 

And there is not a star of hope sparkling 
On the threshold of my night. 

Wild winds of Autumn go wailing 

Up the valley and over the hill, 
Like yearning Ghosts round the world sailing, 

In search of the old love still. 

A fathomless sea is rolling 

O'er the wreck of the bravest bark ; 
And my pain-muffled heart is tolling 

Its dumb-peal down in the dark. 

The waves of a mighty sorrow 

Have whelmed the pearl of my life : 

And there cometh to me no morrow 
Shall solace this desolate strife. 



Gone are the last faint flashes, 
Set is the sun of my years ; 

And over a few poor ashes 
I sit in my darkness and tears. 



IN THE DEAD UNHAPPY MIDNIGHT." 239 



As the White Snow crowns the Hills, and the arms 
of Ether fills, 
With the lustre of its loveliness — a presence as 
of light, 
And it looks up in Heaven's face with all a Virgin's 
trusting grace : 
So the Maiden walkt on Purity's white 
height. 
But the Snow will blush for bliss, at the red Dawn's 
fervent kiss ; 
And fall from its high throne, and lose the bright- 
ness from its brow ; 
And be trodden on the highways, and be trampled 
in the byeways : 
So the Maiden's life is stain'd and trampled 
now. 



"IN THE DEAD UNHAPPY MIDNIGHT.' 

'T is Midnight hour, and the Dead have power 

Over the Wronger now ! 
He is tortured and torn by the crown of thorn 

That fell from the Suicide's brow. 

Wind him around in the toil of thy charms ; 

Nestle him close, young Bride ! 
At the Midnight hour he is drawn from thy arms; 

Thro' the dark with the Dead he must ride. 

The rose of her mouth is red-wet, red-warm : 
She smiles in her heaven of calm. 

Tost ! hurried ! and sered in a pitiless storm ; 
Slumber for him hath no balm. 



240 ON A WEDDING DAY. 

He feels that ghostly groping along 

The Corridor of Dreams ! 
And a dark Desolation Lightning- lit 

Is his face by ghastly gleams ! 

Love's cup flushes up for his crowning kiss, 
With his lip at the burning brim ! 

Lo, the Dead uncurtain his bower of bliss, 
Stretching wild arms for him ! 

Wind him around in the toil of thy charms ; 

Nestle him close, young Bride ! 
Yet, at Midnight hour he is drawn from thy arms ; 

Thro' the dark with the Dead he must ride. 

And the Dark hath a million burning Eyes, 

All of his secret tell ! 
And the whispering winds are damned fiends 

That hiss in his ears of Hell ! 

Warm in her bed the young Bride lies, 

Breathing her peaceful breath : 
Dear Mother and Babe with their drowned eyes 

Stare dim thro' the watery deiith. 

'T is Midnight hour, and the Dead have power 

Over the Wronger now ! 
He is tortured and torn by the crown of thorn 

That fell from the Suicide's brow. 



ON A WEDDING DAY. 

Thus, hand in hand, and heart in heart, 

Face nestling unto face, 
Forgotten things like Spirits start 

From many a hiding place ! 



ON A WEDDING DAY. 241 

There is no sound of Babe or Bird, 

And all the stillness seems 
Sweet as the music only heard 

Adown the land of dreams. 

And if, because it is so proud, 

My heart will find a voice, 
And in its dear dream love aloud, 

And speak of sweet still joys, 
It is no genuine gift of God, 

But only goblin gold, 
That withers into dead leaves, should 

The secret tale be told. 

Nine years ago you came to me, 

And nestled on my breast, 
A soft and winged mystery 

That settled here to rest ; 
And my heart rockt its Babe of bliss, 

And soothed its child of air, 
With something 'twixt a song and kiss, 

To keep it nestling there. 

At first I thought the fairy form 

Too spirit-soft and good 
To fill my poor, low nest with warm 

And wifely womanhood. 
But such a cozy peep of home 

Did your dear eyes unfold ; 
And in their deep and dewy gloom 

What tales of love were told ! 

In dreamy curves your beauty droopt, 

As tendrils lean to twine, 
And very graciously they stoopt 

To bear their fruit, my Vine ! 
To bear such blessed fruit of love 

As tenderlv increased 
16 



242 ON A WEDDING DAY. 

Among the ripe vine-bunches of 
Your balmy-breathing breast. 

We cannot boast to have bickered not 

Since you and I were wed ; 
We have not lived the smoothest lot, 

Nor found the downiest bed ! 
« Time hath not passed o'er-head in Stars, 

And underfoot in flowers, 
With Avings that slept on fragrant airs 

Thro' all the happy hours. 

It is our way, more fate than fault, 

Love's cloudy fire to clear ; 
To find some virtue in the salt 

That sparkles in a tear ! 
Pray God it all come right at last, 

Pray God it so befall, 
That when our day of life is past 

The end may crown it all. 

Ah, Dear ! tho' lives may pull apart 

Down to the roots of love, 
One thought will bend us heart to heart, 

Till lips re-wed above ! 
One thought the knees of pride will bow 

Down to the grave-yard sod ; 
You are the Mother of Angels now ! 

We have two babes with God. 

Cling closer, closer, for their loss, 

About our darlings left, 
And let their memories grow like moss 

That healeth rent and rift ; — 
For his dear sake, our Soldier Boy, 

For whom we nightly plead 
That he may live for God, and die 

For England in her need, — 



SONG AT EVENTIDE. 243 

For her, who like a dancing boat 

Leaps o'er life's solemn waves, 
Our little Lightheart who can float 

And frolic over graves ; 
And Grace, who making music goes, 

As in some shady place , 
A Brooklet, prattling to the boughs, 

Looks up with its bright face. 

Clino; closer, closer, life to life, 

Cling closer, heart to heart; 
The time will come, my own wed Wife, 

When you and I must part! 
Let nothing break our band but Death, 

For in the worlds above 
'T is the breaker Death that soldereth 

Our ring of Wedded Love. 



SONG AT EVENTIDE. 

I sit beneath my shadowing Palm, 

All in the green o' the day at rest : 
And pictured in a sea of calm, 

The Past arises in my breast. 
The winter world takes leafy wing 

In that sweet April tide of ours : 
And hidden Love lies listening, 

And nodding smile the bridal flowers. 

I sing, and shut mine eyes and dream 
I see her singing, my young Bride ! 

Who on a-sudden from Life's stream 
Rose Swan-like swimming at my side. 

God love her ! she was very fair, 
And in her eyes, to light my way, 



244 SONG AT EVENTIDE. 

The Love- Star sprang and sparkled where 
The hidden Babe of Blessing lay. 

With healing as of summer showers 

That only nestle down to bless ; 
And silent ministry of flowers, 

That only breathe their tenderness ; 
She, softly as a starry scheme, 

My charmed world hath circled round, 
Till life doth seem a pleasant dream 

The victor dreameth sitting crowned. 

Gone is the sunshine from her hair, 

That made her beauty needless bright, 
To tint a many clouds of care, 

And make my tears to smile with light. 
But so she lives that when the wind 

Of winter shreds the leaves, dear Wife ! 
Seed ripe for Heaven Death may find 

On the poor withered stem of life. 



THE BRIDEGROOM OF BEAUTY. 



THE BRIDEGROOM OF BEAUTY. 

Who wears a singing-robe is richly dight, 

Said Mabel ; he is greater than a King. 

I would I were a Poet happy-mad ; 

Up like a Lark i' the morning of the times, 

To sing above the human harvesters ; 

Drop fancies, dainty-sweet, to cheer their toil, 

And hurry out a ripe luxuriance 

Of life in song, as though my heart would break ; 

And sing them sweet and precious memories, 

And golden promises, and throbbing hopes; 

Hymn the great Future with its mystery, 

That startles us from out the dark of time 

With secrets numerous as a night of stars : 

Those days hung round with loftier heavens, where 

move 
The larger souls with grandly solemn pace : 
Or send wronged Nations to the battle-field 
With eyes that weep and burn — stir as with fire 
The grand wild beast of Valour, till it leapt 
The red Arena fiery for the fight : 
Then bind with garlands brave the Patriot's brow. 
Anon I would sing songs so sweetly pure, 
That they might pillow a budding Maiden's cheek, 
Like spirit-hands, and catch her tender tears; 
Or nestle next her heart lapt up in love : — 
Songs that in far lands, under alien skies, 
Should spring from English hearts like flowers of 

home. 
I 'd strive to bring down light from heaven to read 
The records writ on Poverty's prison walls, 
The signs of greatness limned in martyr blood, 



218 THE BRIDEGROOM OF BEAUTY. 

And make worn faces glow with warmth of love 
Into the lineaments of heavenly beauty. 

Who wears a singing-robe is richly dight ; 
The Poet, he is greater than a King. 
He plucks the veil from hidden loveliness : 
His gusts of music stir the shadowing boughs, 
To let in glory on the darkened soul. 
Upon the hills of light he plants his feet 
To lure the people up with harp and voice ; 
At humblest human hearths drops dew divine 
To feed the violet virtues nestling there. 
His hands adorn the poorest house of life 
With rare abiding shapes of loveliness. 
All things obey his soul's creative eye ; 
For him earth ripens fruit-like in the light; 
Green April comes to him with smiling tears, 
Like some sweet Maiden who transfigured stands 
In dewy light of first love's rosy dawn. 
And yields all secret preciousness, his Bride. 
He reaps the Autumn without scythe or sickle ; 
And in the sweet low singing of the corn, 
Hears coming Plenty hush the pining Poor. 

The shows of things are but a robe o' the day, 
His life down-deepens to the living heart, 
And Sorrow shows him her wise mysteries. 
He knoweth Life is but a longer year, 
And it will blossom bright in other springs. 
The soul of all things is invisible, 
And nearest to that soul the Poet sings ; 
A sweet, shy Bird in darkling privacy. 
He beckons not the Pleasures as they pass, 
And lets the money-grubbing world go by. 
He hath a towering life, but cannot climb 
Out of the reach of sad calamity : 
A many carking cares pluck at his skirts ; 
Wild, wandering words are hissing at his ear; 
He runs the gauntlet of world-woes to reach 



THE BRIDEGROOM OF BEAUTY. 249 

The inner sanctuary of better life. 

But tho' the seas of sorrow flood his heart, 

Some silent spring of roses blossoms there. 

His spirit-wounds a precious balsam bleed. 

The loveliest ministrants that visit him, 

Rise veiled when his heart-fountains sprint in 

tears. 
And when this misty life hath rolled away 
The turmoil husht ; all foolish voices still ; 
The bonds that crusht his great heart shattered 

down, 
And all his nature shines sublimely bare ; 
Death whitens many a stain of strife and toil, 
And careful hands shall pluck away each weed 
Around the spring that wells melodious life. 



Many are called, Aurelia replied, 
But few are crowned. I knew a Poet once ; 
One of the world's most marvellous might-have- 
beens ; 
A strange wild harper upon human heart-strings. 
Life's morning-splendour round him prophesied 
That he should win his garland in the game. 
But he was lost for lack~of that sweet tiling, 
A Wife, to live his love's dear dream of beauty, 
And wandered darkling in his dazzling dream. 
Life's waters— troubled till that Angef comes — 
Never grew calm above the jewel he sought, 
Till in Death's harbour all their surges slept. 

He was betrothed to Beauty ere his birth — 
That silent Spirit of the universe, 
Which seeks interpreters of her dumb shows, 
'Mong human lovers whom she may not wed ! 



250 THE BRIDEGROOM OF BRATJTT. 

This Spirit arose from many things, as soars 

The soul of Harmony from many sounds. 

She beckoned him for her Evangelist, 

Out of the byeway of his lonely life, 

And straightway he arose and followed her, 

And in the shadow of her loveliness, 

Or in her wake of glory, walkt the world. 

That shining Shape, in her sweet mystery, seemed 
Some beauteous miracle of silent love. 
Thro' smiles, and tears, he saw his visioned Bride, 
With gorgeous grace, and twinkling limbs of light, 
Aye dancing on in her delightsomeness. 
His love-dream glided silent thro' his life, 
Like rosy-handed Day 'twixt Earth and Night, 
And came betwixt his mind and all its glooms ; 
Her sandals wet and fragrant with Heaven's dew. 
She set the barren thorns in jewelled glow, 
And sowed the furrows of his life with flowers. 
He followed with wild looks and heart a-fire, 
And that rich mist of feeling in the eyes, 
Whose alchymy half-creates the thing we see. 

She rose at dawn in sparkling clouds of dew, 

And kept the Morning's ruddy golden gates; 

Stood high in sunrise on the mountain-top; 

Or in her bower of the silvery air 

Sat, shedding her rich beauty on the sea, 

Which of her likeness took some trembly tints ; 

Voyaged like Venus in her car of cloud 

About the sapphire heaven's lake of love, 

Or danced on sunset streams to harp of gold : 

Then twilight mists would robe more faint and fair 

Her dim, delicious, dreamy loveliness. 

The Flowers that startle at the voice of May 
And open gamesome eyes, had been with her ; 
Their subtle smile said what they could reveal. 
Among the boughs of balm rainbowed with bloom ; 



THE BRIDEGROOM OF BEAUTY. 251 

The coloured clouds that kindle and richly rise 
From out the bosom of Earth's emerald sea ; 
Hedge-roses set in dewy radiance green ; 
The lush Laburnums, all a rain of gold ; 
She seemed to have fled and left her robe afloat. 
An Ariel, soft she murmured in the pines ; 
He heard, but knew no magic word or wand. 
A wavy Naiad, she rippled the cool brooks 
That round her dallied, babbling in their dreams. 
The fragrant feeling of the languorous air 
Was as the soft endearment of her touch, 
And wound him in a tremulous caress. 

Not by appointment do we meet Delight 
And Joy ; they heed not our expectancy ; 
But round some corner in the streets of life, 
They, on a sudden, clasp us with a smile. 
So on him rose his visitant divine, 
From many a magic mirror of the mind ; 
With elfin evanescence came and went. 

When, thronged with life, the Year in beauty 

burst, 
Lifted her lids, and blossomed from the trees, 
She smiled in all the gateways of the spring. 
In burnisht bark swam down the summer-tide 
That floods the vallies, breaks o'er all the hills, 
In sparkling spray of flowers, and leafy life. 
She rooft the Autumn forests with the wealth 
Of melted rainbows, caught from summer heaven. 
And winter trees stretcht fingers weird to win 
Her perfect pearl, and her white purity. 
Where'er she went Earth lookt up with a smile. 

Thro' Music's maze she glode at hide-and-seek ; 
Played with the Storm, then in her rainbow-shape 
Langht from the purple skirts of Heaven, as laughs 
Some radiant Child from Mother's hiding robe. 
Adown dim forest-windings he would peer ; 



252 THE BRIDEGROOM OF BEAUTY. 

Surprise his Beautiful at her woodland bath, 
And in a solemn hush of heart stand still 
Like fixed flame ! for lo, how softly glowed 
Her dainty limbs in depths of dissolved pearl ! 
Then swift as runs a wind-wave over grass, 
He saw her garments gleam in leafy light. 
Were those love- whisperings among the leaves, 
Or elvish laughters twitting thro' the trees ? 
Sometimes the boughs let in her haunting face ; 
But the old forest kept the secret still, 
And husht it round with grave unconscious look. 

In vernal nights so tender, calm, and cool, 

When eerie Darkness lays its shadowy hands 

On Earth, and reads her sins with searching 

eyes, 
Like a Confessor o'er a kneeling Nun ; 
He stood in God's wide whispering gallery, 
And breathed his worship : down from visible 

heaven 
Her influence fell, and thrilled in music thro' 
The silences of space, and soothed his soul, 
Till life was folded up brimfull of beauty, 
As the flower folds its pearl and droops to dream. 

At times, from out the curtains of the dark, 

Her face would meet him thro' the glowing 

gloom. 
Sometimes she passed ; her rippling raiment toucht 
His brows, and sphered him with diviner air, 
Like honeysuckles brusht at dewy dusk. 
The fragrance of her breath made old earth young. 
From mystery to mystery, like a Bride, 
The dainty-waisted darling led him on, 
And dropt love-tokens in his pilgrim path. 
The red Rose peering from its cool green leaves 
Like warm Love lifting half its hiding veil, 
Symbolled her soft red mouth held up to him. 
A virgin whiteness in a dream of bloom, 



THE BRIDEGROOM OF BEAUTY. 253 

Gave to her tender cheeks their taking tint. 

Her eyes were orbs of thought that on him burned 

Fervent as Hesper in the brow of Eve. 

He walkt as in a clime of golden eves. 
The vineyard of his life reeled lusty ripe ; 
He ached to press the wine upon her lips, 
But aye she melted from his love's embrace, 
To float him far away in faery lands. 
The wooing wind would murmur of her fairness, 
And round him breathe in many whispers sweet ; 
Bring dews of healing as from Hermon hill ; 
Creep to his burning heart with drink of life, 
And cool him with her kisses. Oft he husht, 
As one who pauses on a midnight heath, 
To catch the footfall felt on Fancy's ear. 

When he awoke in Dreamland, 't was to find 
He had been floated thro' some starry dark, 
Far from earth's shore, on an enchanted sea : 
And he lay pillowed 'twixt her white warm breasts, 
In glowing arms of glorifying love : 
A light of love-dreams on her features shone, 
And she had laid her daylight mask aside ; 
All the sweet soul of things lay bare, as lies 
The mirrored moon in silver sleeping seas. 

A shimmering splendour from the By-gone broke, 
As the Ship leaves a luminous wake behind; 
And, looking back, his Childhood's world she ringed 
With rich auroral hues of summer dawns. 
When weird, dark shapes of sorrow hunted nigh 
With their slow solemn eyes, and silent aim, 
She dropt the gold cloud of her tresses round 

him. 
When o'er him hung the night of adverse fate, 
She was a light along his perilous path, 
And thro' the darkness of his soul there broke 
A heaven of worlds all tenderness and peace. 



254 THE BRIDEGROOM OF BEAUTY. 

At times he walkt with glad and dauntless step, 

As inner wings to heroic music moved ; 

And men who read his lighted look might deem 

His life a summer story told in flowers. 

But often he would falter weeping-weak, 

With clasped hands, and very lowly heart. 

Then she rose radiant in finer light, 

Seen thro' the altar-smoke arid mist of tears. 

So his life grew to beauty silently. 

And shaped his soul into an orb of song. 

He sang of Her his beautiful Unknown ! 

And to his music she Avould coyly come ; 

He ceased — to look on her — and she was gone. 

He sang of Her his beautiful Unknown, 

Heart-wild, as some glad bird that sings of spring, 

And all Earth's voices rang a rich refrain. 

He would have made the world her worshipper: 

The sceptic world that flung him Christ's old crown. 

One day our passionate pilgrim sat him down 

By the wayside of life, and thus he sang. 

" Like a tree beside the river 

Of her life that runs from me, 
Do I lean me, murmuring ever 

In my love's idolatry. 
Lo, 1 reach out hands of blessing; 

Lo, I stretch out hands of prayer; 
And, with passionate caressing, 

Pour my life upon the air. 
In my ears the syren river 

Sings, and smiles up in ray face; 
But for ever, and for ever, 

Runs from my embrace. 

" Spring b}- spring the branches duly 

Clothe themselves in tender flower; 
And for her sweet sake as truly 

All their fruit and fragrance shower. 
But the stream, with careless laughter, 

Runs in merry beauty by, 
And it leaves me yearning 'after, 

Lorn to droop, and lone to die. 



THE BRIDEGROOM OF BEAUTY. 255 

In my ears the syren river 

Sings, and smiles up in my face; 
But for ever, and for ever, 

Runs from my embrace. 

" I stand maz^d in the moonlight, 

O'er its happy face to dream; 
I am parched in the noonlight 

By that cool and brimming stream: 
I am dying by the river 

Of her life that runs from me, 
And it sparkles by me ever, 

With its cool felicity. 
In my ears the syren river 

Sings, and smiles up in my face; 
But for ever, and for ever, 

Runs from my embrace." 



" thou Beloved ! thou Beautiful ! 
On our perfection, throned for pedestal: 

spirit as the lightning wild and bright, 
Come from thy palace of the purple light. 
Come down to mortal arms a living form, 

With heavenly height of brow, and bosom warm. 
Glow human from the mist, thou Shape of Grace; 
Thou tender wonder, fold me face to face. 
Art thou not mine, thou delicate Delight? 
Hast thou not visited me noon and night'? 
Freighted with my dead Hopes I follow thee, 
Like some Norse sea-king flaming out to sea. 
Say, are the pleasant bowers far away, 
Deckt by thy dear hands for our marriage-day, 
Where we the gardens of delight shall roam 
In endless love? Wnen wilt thou lead me home, 
To find our bliss in heaven's honied heart; 
Live secret soul to soul, never to part V 

" awful Glory, felt, but never found; 

1 have but seen thy Shadow on life's ground. 
I know thee now, Immortal ! show the way 
To thine Elysium, I could die to-day. 
Break into wings this chrysalis of my life, 
That 1 may soar to thee my spirit-wife. 

Thy dark bower-door, the Grave, gives me no fear; 
When I emerge beyond, thou wilt be near." 



256 THE BRIDEGROOM OF BEAUTY. 

O'er all his face the sudden splendour smiled, 

Sweet as first love, and sad as wailing winds. 

His soul had rent the veil 'twixt life and life. 

Slowly the shining vapours orb a Star, 

By fine degrees before his fixed eyes. 

The Spirit he had sought thro' all the world, 

Turned full upon him face to face at last. 

She laid her hand upon his throbbing harp ; 

She prest her lips upon his passionate life ; 

And both stood still. He found his Bride in death. 



GLIMPSES OF THE CRIMEAN WAR. 



19 



GLIMPSES OF THE CRIMEAN WAR, 

Like peeping Children down some distant lane, 

What time with pealing pomp and pageant shows 

The Battle in its bravery blazons by, 

We peered into the passing world of War — 

Its crowning Heaven a-glow with starry hopes — 

Its crowded Hell of red and writhing pain ; 

With hearts that ached or burned, as kindled 

cheeks 
Flamed up in reddening shame, or bloom of pride, 
And told the story as the pictures rose. 
How England swooned beneath the kiss of Peace, 
And languisht in her long voluptuous dream, 
While weed-like creatures crept along her path. 
Where leapt of old proud waves of glorious life, 
The sluggish channels choked with golden sand. 
The hills of light rose shining far away, 
Where she should stand and touch the hem of 

Heaven ; 
Rut, day by day she darkened deeper down. 
The cold, grim Shadow stretcht o'er half the earth, 
Came freezing round her watch fire's dying flame, 
While spirit-finger-pointings signalled her, 
And spirit-rustlings stirred the air in vain. 

A tearless anguish flamed from Poland's eyes 
When the red Deluge closed above her head : 
Sodden with suffering and unwept tears, 
The heart of Hungary pled in silence stern : 
Poor Italy lay in her guarded grave, 
Her life all crouching in one listening sense, 



260 GLIMPSES OF THE CRIMEAN WAR. 

To catch aught stirring in the upper world : 
Out of the North the brute Colossus strode, 
With grimly solemn pace, proud in the might 
That moves not but to crush, and terribly towered 
Its growing shape thro' Battle's bloody gap 
Where Nations fell ; and like a Cyclop's eye 
Its one idea lit it to the prey : 
While pale Expediency paltered for 
Our peaceful chance of being eaten last. 

And England slumbered in the lap of Peace, 
Beneath her grand old Oak, which, hale and 

strong, 
Rode down the storm, and wrestled with the 

winds, 
To rise in pomp of bloom, and paean of song, 
Green with the sap of many hundred springs ; 
And tossed its giant arms in wanton life, 
Like Victory smiling in the sun of Glory. 
She saw not how the worms eat out its heart. 
Life deftly masks the hiding-place of death ; 
And Ruin leads his Bride in a garland green 
For sacrifice. So England slept in peace. 
And in the glamour of her dream she saw 
Brave fancies foot it holding Freedom's pall, 
Waving their funeral links for bridal lights. 

Came Nemesis, her lightnings stabbed the dark, 

To show the way, and startled England woke 1 

Behold the glorious creature leaping from 

Delilah's lap, to the battle-chariot, 

Like Sternness stript for strife. Grim- wooing War 

Mirrors his terrible beauty in her face ; » 

On fire to bring the death-strokes hand to hand. 

Her heart is dancing to a loftier tune. 

Ah, God hath called His Chosen once again, 

And the Old Guard of Freedom takes the field. 

Rejoicing in the glory of her strength, 

Like some proud cataract she shouts for the strife, 



ENGLAND GOES TO BATTLE. 261 

And hurls her hurrying waves of valour down. 
The gloi'ious shudder of intrepid blood 
Hurtles thro' all her veins, and Victory's voice 
Cries from the inmost oracle of her soul. 
Her swift avenging armaments shall flame 
O'er land and sea, sublime as when of old 
With a colossal calm she rode the waves 
Of war, that heaved magnificent in storm. 
The noble prophecy of ripened age 
Was on her youthful brow ; fulfilment comes. 
She lifts the Ark of Freedom in her arms, 
Safe thro' the deluge of a warring world. 



ENGLAND GOES TO BATTLE. 

Now, glory to our England, 

She arises, calm and grand, 
The ancient spirit in her eyes,' — 

The good Sword in her hand ! 
Our royal right on battle-ground 

Was aye to bear the brunt : 
Ho ! brave heart ! for one passionate bound, 

And take thy place in front ! 
Now glory to our England, 

As she rises, calm and grand, 
The ancient spirit in her eyes — 

The good Sword in her hand ! 

Who would not fight for England? 

Who would not fling a life 
I' the ring, to meet a Tyrant's gage, 

And glory in the strife ? 
Her stem is thorny, but doth burst 

A glorious Rose a-top ! 
And shall our dear Rose wither '? First 

We '11 drain life's dearest drop ! 



262 ENGLAND GOES TO BATTLE. 

Who would not fight for England ? 

Who would not fling a life 
I* the ring, to meet a Tyrant's gage, 

And glory in the strife ? 

To battle goes our England, 

All as gallant and as gay 
As Lover to the Altar, on 

A merry marriage-day. 
A weary night she stood to watch 

The battle-dawn up-roll'd ; 
Her spirit leaps within, to match 

The noble deeds of old. 
To battle goes our England, 

All as gallant and as gay 
As lover to the Altar, on 

A merry marriage-day. 

Now, fair befall our England, 

On her proud and perilous road : 
And woe and wail to those who make 

Her foot-prints red with blood ! 
Up with our red-cross banner, — roll 

A thunder-peal of drums ! 
Fight on there, every valiant soul, 

And courage ! England comes ! 
Now fair befall our England, 

On her proud and perilous road : 
And woe and wail to those who make 

Her foot-prints red with blood ! 

Now, victory to our England ! 

And where'er she lifts her hand 
In Freedom's fight, to rescue Right, 

God bless the dear Old Land! 
And when the Storm has pass'd away, 

In glory and in calm, 
May she sit down i' the green o' the day, 

An 1 sing her peaceful psalm ! 



TROOPS LEAVING EDINBURGH. 263 

Now, victory to ouy England ! 

And where'er she lifts her hand 
In Freedom's fight, to rescue Right, 

God bless the dear Old Land ! 



TROOPS LEAVING EDINBURGH. 

For Freedom's battle march auld Scotland's brave, 

And Edinburgh streets are piled with life to-day. 

High on her crags the royal City sits, 

And sees the files of war far-winding out, 

And with the gracious golden Morning smiles 

Her proudest blessing down. Old Arthur's Seat 

Flings up his cap of cloud for brave success ; 

But the old Castle standeth staidly stern, 

As some scarred Chief who sends his boys to battle : 

While the Sea flashes in the sun, our Shield, 

So rich in record of heroic names ! 

The gay Hussars come riding thro' the town, 
A light of triumph sparkling in their eyes ; 
The Music goeth shouting in their praise, 
Like a loud people round the Victor's car ; 
And Highland plumes together nod as though 
There went the Funeral Hearse of a , Russian 

Host: 
The bickering bayonets flutter wings of fire, 
And gaily sounds the March o' the Cameron Men. 

The War-steeds sweeping — men to battle going — 
The Avave of Beauty's hand — meed of her eyes — 
The banners with old battle-memories stirred — 
The thrilling Pibroch, and the wild war-drum, 
The stern sword-music of our grand Hurrah, 
And answering cheer for death or victory — 
AH make me tingle with a triumph of life, 



264 TROOPS LEAVING EDINBURGH. 

And I could weep that I am left behind, 
To see the tide ebb where I may not follow. 
And there they march afield, those gallant men ; 
To win proud death, or larger life, they leave 
Home's rosy circle ringed with blessings rich, 
For the far darkness, and the battle-cloud, 
Where many have faH'n, and many yet must fall, 
In spurring their great hearts up to the leap, 
For such brave dashes at unconquered heights. 
The shadow of solemn Sorrow falls behind, 
Where sobbing Sweethearts look their loving last, 
And weeping Wives hold up the little ones. 
The sun sets in their faces, life grows grey, 
And sighs of desolation sweep its desert. 
The winter of the heart aches in the eyes 
Of Mothers, who have given their all, their all. 

And yet methinks the Heroic Time returns, 
Such look of triumph lit the meanest face 
To-day : there seemed no heart so earthly but 
Had some blind gropings after nobler life, 
With hands that reacht toward God's Gate Beauti- 
ful. 
Our England bright'ning thro' the battle-smoke, 
Had toucht them with her glory's lovelier light. 
And though their darlings fall, and tho' they die 
In this death-grapple in the night with Wrong ; 
The memory of their proud deeds cannot die. 
They may go down to dust in bloody shrouds, 
And sleep in nameless tombs. But for all time, 
Foundlings of Fame are our beloved Lost. 
For me, this day of glorious life shall be 
One of the starry brides of Memory, 
Whose glittering faces light the night of soul. 



DOWN IN AUSTRALIA. 265 



DOWN IN AUSTRALIA. 

Quaff a cup, and send a cheer up for the Old 
Land ! 
We have heard the Reapers shout, 
For the Harvest going out, 
With the smoke of battle closing round the bold 
Land ; 
And our message shall be hurled 
Right across the ringing world, 
There are true hearts beating for you in the Gold 
Land. 

We are with you in your battles, brave and bold 
Land ! 
For the old ancestral tree 
Striketh root beneath the sea, 
And it beareth fruit of Freedom in the Gold 
Land ! 
We shall come, too, if you call, 
We shall fight on if you fall ; 
Cromwell's land shall never be a bought and sold 
Land. 

The standard of the Lord wave o'er the Old 
Land ! 
For the waiting world holds breath 
While she treads the den of Death, 
With the peaceful sleeve stript up from her bare 
bold hand ; 
And her rose in blood shall bloom 
On the bosom, and the tomb 
Of her many heroes fallen for the Old Land. 

O, a terror to the Tyrant is that bold* Land ! 
He remembers how she stood, 
With her raiment roll'd in blood, 



266 DOWN IN AUSTRALIA. 

When the tide of battle burst upon the Old Land ; 

And he looks with darken'd face, 

For be knows the hero race 
Strike the Harp of Freedom — draw her Sword 
with bold hand. 

Let thy glorious voice be heard, thou great and 
bold Land ! 
Speak the one victorious word, 
And fair Freedom's wander'd Bird 
Shall wing back with leaf of promise from the Old 
Land ; 
And the peoples shall come out 
From their slave-land with a shout 
For the spring that greeneth in the Future's Gold 
Land. 

When the smoke of Battle rises from the Old Land, 
You shall see the Tyrant down ! 
You shall see the ransom'd crown 
On the brow of prisoned peoples won with bold 
hand: 
She shall thresh her foes like corn, 
They shall eat the bread of scorn, 
And we'll sing her song of triumph in the Gold 
Land. 

Quaff a cup, and send a cheer up for the Old 
Land. 
W T e have heard the Reapers shout, 
For the harvest going out, 
Seen the smoke of Battle closing round the bold 
Land; 
And our answer shall be hurl'd 
Right across the ringing world, — 
There are true hearts beating for you in the Gold 
Land. 



THE LILIES OF FRANCE, ETC. 267 



THE LILIES OF FRANCE AND OUR 
OWN RED ROSE. 

Like a stern old friend, War grimly comes 

To the temple of peaceful Life ; 
With the well-known nod of his beckoning plumes 

He hurries us into the strife. 
And we meet once more, in the fields of fate, 

With our chivalrous Enemy, 
Who knows, by the grip of our hands in hate, 

What the strength of our love may be. 
O ! the Lilies of France and our own Red Rose 

Are twined in a Coronal now ; 
At War's bloody bridal it glitters and glows 

On Liberty's beautiful brow. 

We have dasht together like waves and rocks ! 

We have fought till our shirts grew red ! 
We have met in the shuddering battle-shocks, 

Where none but the freed soul fled ! 
Now side by side, in the fields of fate, 

And shoulder to shoulder, are we ; 
And we know, by the grip of our hands in hate, 

What the strength of our love may be. 
O ! the Lilies of France and our own Red Rose 

Are twined in a Coronal now ; 
At War's bloody bridal it glitters and glows 

On Liberty's beautiful brow. 

Then gather ye, gather to battle, ye Braves, 

In the might of your old renown ! 
And follow ye, follow ye, over the waves, 

Where Liberty's sun went down ! 
By the bivouac-fire, in the battle-shower, 

Remember your destiny grand, 
To set in the thrones of their olden power 

The peoples of many a land ! 



268 AFTER ALMA. 

For the Lilies of France and our own Red Rose 

Are twined in a Coronal now ; 
At War's bloody bridal it glitters and glows 

On Liberty's beautiful brow. 



Till the last fetter'd nation that calls us is free, 



Let us fall upon Tyranny's hord 



innr 



Brave Italy, Poland, and Hungary, see, 

With their praying hands seek tor a Sword ! 
Till the Storm-God is roused in each suffering 
land, 
Let us march thro' the welcoming world ; 
And till Freedom and Faith shall go hand-in- 
hand, 
Let us keep the war-standard unfurl'd ! 
For the Lilies of France and Old England's Red 
Rose 
Are twined in a Coronal now ; 
At War's bloody bridal it glitters and glows 
On Liberty's beautiful brow. 



AFTER ALMA. 

Our old War-banners on the wind 

Were dancing merrily o'er them ; 
The hope of half the world behind — 

The sullen Foe before them ! 
They trode their march of battle, bold 

As death-devoted freemen ; 
Like those Three Hundred Greeks of old, 

Or Rome's immortal Three Men. 
Ah, Victory ! joyful Victory ! 

Like Love, thou bringest sorrow ; 
But, O ! for such an hour with thee, 

Who could not die to-morrow ? 



AFTER ALMA. 

With towering heart and lightsome feet 

They went to their high places ; 
Ihe fiery valour at white heat 

Was flashing in their faces ! 
Magnificent in battle-robe, 

And radiant, as from star-lands, 
That spirit shone which girds our o-lobe 

With glory, as with garlands ! 
Ah, Victory ! joyful Victory ! 

Like Love, thou bringest sorrow ; 
But, O ! for such an hour with thee, 

Who could not die to-morrow ? 

They saw the Angel Iris o'er 

Their deluge of grim fire ; 
And with their life's last tide they bore 

The Ark of Freedom higher ! 
And grander 't is i' the dash of death 

lo ride on Battle's billows, 
When Victory's kisses take the breath, 

lhan sink on balmiest pillows ! 
Ah, Victory ! joyful Victory ! 

Like Love, thou bringest sorrow ; 

wi° ! f ° r SUeh an h °" r With thee > 
VV ho could not die to-morrow '? 

Brave Hearts, with noble feeling flusht, 

Jn ripe and ruddy riot 
But Yesterday ! how are ye husht 

Beneath the smile of Quiet ! 
For us they pour'd their blood like wine, 

-trom life's r.pe-gather'd clusters; 
And far thro' History's night shall shine 

lheir deeds with starry lustres. 
Ah, Victory ! joyful Victory ! 

Like Love, thou bringest sorrow ; 

Bl wi° ! f ° r SUch an hour with thee > 
Who could not die to-morrow ? 



269 



270 AFTER ALMA. 

We laid them not in Churchyard home, 

Beneath our darling daisies : 
But to their rude mounds Love will come, 

And sit, and sing their praises. 
And soothly sweet shall be their rest 

Where Victory's hands have crown'd them ; 
To Earth our Mother's bosom prest, 

And Heaven's arms around them. 
Ah, Victory ! joyful Victory ! 

Like Love, thou bringest sorrow ; 
But, O ! for such an hour with thee, 

Who could not die to-morrow '? 

Yes, there they lie 'neath Alma's sod, 

On pillows dark and gory, — 
As brave a host as ever trod 

Old England's fields of glory. 
With head to home and face to sky, 

And feet the Tyrant spurning, 
So grand they look, so proud they lie, 

We weep for glorious yearning. 
Ah, Victory ! joyful Victory ! 

Like Love, thou bringest sorrow ; 
But, O ! for such an hour with thee, 

Who could not die to-morrow ? 

They in Life's outer circle sleep, 

As each in death stood Sentry ! 
And with our England's Dead still keep 

Their watch for kin and country. 
Up Alma, in their red footfalls, 

Comes Freedom's dawn victorious ; 
Such graves are courts to festal halls ! 

They banquet with the Glorious. 
Ah, Victory ! joyful Victor)- ! 

Like Love, thou bringest sorrow ; 
But, O ! for such an hour with thee, 

Who could not die to-morrow V 



BEFORE SEBASTOPOL. 271 

Our Chiefs who matcht the men of yore, 

And bore our shield's great burden, — 
The nameless Heroes of the Poor, — 

They all shall have their guerdon. 
In silent eloquence, each life 

The Earth holds up to heaven ; 
And Britain gives for Child and Wife, 

As those dear hearts have given. 
Ah, Victory ! joyful Victory ! 

Like Love, thou bringest sorrow ; 
But, O ! for such an hour with thee, 

Who could not die to-morrow ? 

The spirits of our fathers still 

Stand up in battle by us ; 
And in our need, on Alma hill, 

The Lord of Hosts was nigh us. 
Let Joy or Sorrow brim our cup, 

'T is an exultant story, 
How England's Chosen Ones went up 

Red Alma's hill to glory. 
Ah, Victory ! joyful Victory ! 

Like Love, thou bringest sorrow ; 
But, O ! for such an hour with thee, 

Who could not die to-morrow ? 



BEFORE SEBASTOPOL. 

Hurrah ! we grip the Tyrant now ! 

And there 's no heart so lowly 
But burns to strike a battle-blow, 

And win a cause so holy ! 
The Brave look fearless in the eyes 

Of Death, nor cry him quarter ; 
And grand promotion waits them, Boys, 

Who fall by land or water ! 



272 BEFORE SEBASTOPOL. 

Sing O ! but a jubilant carouse 

Awaits us in oar far land, 
When we shall thrust up conquering brows, 

And take our Country's garland. 

O, think how happy eyes will brim 

To greet us on the beaches, 
With blissful looks of love that swim 

Thro' long luxurious reaches ! 
They watch us now from out the West, 

But all too proud to sorrow 
For us who rest on Victory's breast, 

Or wear her wreath to-morrow. 
Sing O ! but a jubilant carouse 

Awaits us in our far land, 
When we shall thrust up conquering brows, 

And take our Country's garland. 

We '11 seek the bed of Death, to win 

Fair Freedom's dream of beauty, 
Or wrest her from the Tyrant, in 

The loving arms of duty. 
Then gaily thro' the ocean foam 

-Shall sail our nobler Argo, 
And proudly to our Island-home 

We '11 bear the precious cargo. 
Sing O ! but a jubilant carouse 

Awaits us in our far land, 
When we shall thrust up conquering brows, 

And take our Country's garland. 

To-day the ancient valour starts ; 

The spirit of old story 
Shall flash from out heroic hearts, 

And kindle England's glory. 
Wild voices wail across the sea, — 

They cry from many a woe-land, — 
Revenge ! remember Sinope ! 

Revenue ! remember Poland ! 



TWINE A GARLAND FOR THE GRAVE. 273 

Sing O ! but a jubilant carouse 

Awaits us in our far land, 
When we shall thrust up conquering brows, 

And take our Country's garland. 

Now Soldiers up to conquest stride, 

Let not one spirit falter : 
For Victory is your plighted Bride, 

The breach your solemn altar ! 
Thro' all this bloody cemet'ry 

Behold what seed lies sleeping ; 
God ! but thy sun should stand while we 

Our harvest field are reaping. 
Sing O ! but a jubilant carouse 

Awaits us in our far land, 
When we shall thrust up conquering brows, 

And take our Country's garland. 

Now, Sailors, fight your Ships to-day 

As Grenville fought the Spaniard ! 
If Battle's bloodiest game they play, 

Have at them grip-and-poignard. 
One thrilling shout for England, Ho! 

Then, naked for the fight, men, 
Dash in like fire upon the foe, 

And God defend the Right, men ! 
Sing O ! but a jubilant carouse 

Awaits us in our far land, 
When we shall thrust up conquering brows, 

And take our Country's garland. 



TWINE A GARLAND FOR THE GRAVE. 

Twine a garland for the grave 

Of our Beautiful ! our Brave ! 

And their names in glory grave 

Who have died for us. 

18 



274 TWINE A GARLAND FOK THE GRAVE. 

High the battle-banner wave ! 
They have perisht but to save, 
They have leapt a Curtian grave 
In their pride for us. 






How they conquer, gallant guarders, with the red 

wet sword in hand ! 
How thy lii'e, at their brave ardours, crimsons high 

with health, Old Land ! 
How they run the race of glory ! how they light 

these darkened years ! 
In our land's heroic story, *t is the proudest tale of 

tears. 

In the Alma's vineyards ruddy, did they toil for 

our increase : 
In the fields of battle bloody, they shall plant our 

palms of Peace. 
They may rest by Alma river ; they may die in 

deserts drear : 
But for ever, and for ever, shall our country hold 

them dear. 

With her smile the Angel Duty lit their brows as 

with a crown ; 
And for love of her dear beauty they to death go 

daring down. 
Eyes may weep the unreturning ; hearts will break 

with Mother and Bride : 
But, on Britain's front no mourning glooms for 

those who thus have died. 

Twine a garland for the grave 
Of our Beautiful ! our Brave ! 
And their names in glory grave 

Who have died for us. 
High the battle-banner wave ! 
They have perisht but to save, 
They have leapt a Curtian grave 

In their pride for us. 



THE DEATH-RIDE. 275 



THE DEATH-RIDE. 

Sit stern in your saddles ! grip tighter each blade 
We charge thro' their guns, or thro' blood we shall 

wade ! 
To-day win a glory that never shall fade. 
Old England for ever ! Hurrah ! 

O the lightning of life ! O the thunder of steeds ! 
Great thoughts burn within us like fiery seeds, 
Swift to flame out a red fruitage of deeds. 
Old England for ever ! Hurrah ! 

O the wild joy of Warriors going to die, 

All Sword, and all Flame, with our brows lifted 

high ! 
Ride on, happy band, for thy glory swims nigh. 
Old England for ever ! Hurrah ! 

Chariots of fire in the dark of death stand ; 
To crown all who die for their own dear land : 
My God, what a time ere we come hand to hand ! 
Old England for ever ! Hurrah ! 

The Sea of Flame wraps us now ! take one long 

breath, 
And plunge for the prize of Immortals, beneath. 
Silence the cannonade, shouting to Death : 
Old England for ever ! Hurrah ! 

Spring to now ! dash thro' now ! and cleave crest 

and crown ! 
For each foe round you strown now, a wreath of 

renown ! 
In a red rain of Sabres ride down, dash them down. 
Old England for ever ! Hurrah ! 



276 OUR HEROES. 

Charge back ! once again we must ride the death- 
ride, 

You Victor-few smiling in terrible pride ! 

Charge home ! smoking hell of horse, grim, glori- 
fied ! 

Old England for ever ! Hurrah ! 

Now cheer for the living ! now cheer for the dead 
Now cheer for the deed on that hill-side red ! 
The glory is gathered for England's head. 
Old England for ever ! Hurrah ! 



OUR HEROES. 

Ah, weep not for the Heroes whom we never more 

shall see ; 
Ah, weep Ave were not with them in their ruddy 

revelry ! 
God of Battles ! but 't were glorious to have 

mounted Victory's Car, 
When the Chivalry of Europe smote the squadrons 

of the Czar ! 

'T is brave, while banners wave, to be where Free- 
dom's Champions are, 

And burst upon the Enemy like Gods from clouds 
of war ! 

Our Old Land beauteous leans above her darlings 
as they die, 

And, bosom'd in her arms of love, her slain ones 
richly lie. 

We blessed them for the Battle, who but marcht to 
the Bier ; . 

Some were riper for the Bridal — some were Fa- 
thers gray and sere ; 



OUR HEROES. 27"l 

With a kiss for Child and Wife, some went out in 

War's red wrack ; 
And to the land that gives us life, who 'd grudge 

to give it back ? 

I had a gallant Brother, loved at home, and dear 
to me — 

I have a mourning Mother, winsome Wife, and 
Children three — 

He lies with Balaklava's dead. But let the Old 
Land call, 

We would give our living remnant, we would fol- 
low one and all ! 

We speak a few weak words ; but, the great hearts 

gone to God, 
They have fought with their Swords — won our 

battles red wet-shod ! 
While we sat at home, brave laurels for our Land 

they went to win ; 
And with smiles Valhalla lightens as our Heroes 

enter in. 

They bore our Banner fearless to the death, as to 

the fight, 
They lifted England peerless to the old heroic 

height. 
We weep not for the Heroes whom we never more 

shall see, — 
We weep we were not with them in their ruddy 

revelry. 



278 OUR ENGLISH NIGHTINGALE. 



OUR ENGLISH NIGHTINGALE. 

" You brave, you bonny Nightingale, 

You are no summer Bird ; 
Your music sheathes an Army's wail 

That pierces like a Sword." 
All night she sings, brave Nightingale, 

With her breast against the thorn ; 
Her saintly patience doth not fail, 

She keepeth watch till morn. 

" Ah, sing, you bonniest Bird of God, 

The night is sad and long ; 
To dying ears — to broken hearts — 

You sing an Angel's song ! " 
She sings, she sings, brave Nightingale, 

And weary warrior souls 
Are caught up into Slumber's heaven, 

And lapped in Love's warm folds. 

" O sing, O sing ! brave Nightingale, 

And at your magic note 
Upon Life's sea victoriously 

The sinking soul will float. 
O sing, O sing ! brave Nightingale, 

And lure them back again, 
Whose path is lost and spirit crost, 

In dark wild woods of Pain." 

She sings, she sings, brave Nightingale, 
* She breathes a gracious balm ; 
Her presence breaks the waves of war, 

She smiles them into calm. 
She sings, she sings, brave Nightingale, 

Of auld Langsyne and Home ; 
And life grows light, the world grows bright, 

And blood runs rich with bloom. 



INKERMAN. 279 

Day unto day her dainty hands 

Make Life's soiled temples clean, 
And there 's a wake of glory where 

Her spirit pure hath been. 
At midnight, thro' that shadow-land, 

Her living face doth gleam ; 
The dying kiss her shadow, and 

The Dead smile in their dream. 

Brave Bird of Love, in Life's sweet May, 

She rose up from the feast, 
To shine above our Banner, 

Like God's Angel in the East. 
"Brave Bird of Life, wave healing wings 

O'er that gray Land o' the Dead ; 
God's heaven lie round you like a shield, 

Earth's blessings on your head." 



The Hose did lift her veil, and blush 

At her bower-door like a Bride ; 
The shy brown birds came back with Spring, 

In our merry green woods to hide. 
But there she sang, our Nightingale ! 

Till War's stern heart grew mild ; 
And, nestling in the arms of Peace, 

He slumbered like a Child. 



INKEUMAN. 

Twas Midnight ere our Guns' grim laugh o'er 

their wild work did cease, 
And at the smouldering fires of War we lit the pipe 

of peace. 



280 INKERMAN. 

At Four, a burst of Bells went up thro' Night's 

Cathedral dark, 
It seemed so like our Sabbath-chimes, we could but 

lie, and hark ! 
So like the Bells that call to prayer in the dear 

land far away ; 
Their music floated on the air, and kist us — to 

' betray. 
Our camp lay on the rainy hill, all silent as a 

cloud, 
Its very heart of life stood still — and the white 

Mist brought its shroud ; 
For Death was walking in the dark, and smiled 

His smile to see 
How all was ranged and ready for a sumptuous 

jubilee. 

O wily are the Russians, and they came up thro' 

the mirk — 
Their feet all shod for silence in the best blood of 

the Turk ! 
While in its banks our fiery tide of War sereiely 

slept, 
Their subtle serpentry unrolled, and stealthily they 

crept ! 
In the Ruins of the Valley do the Birds of Carnage 

stir? 
A rustle in the gloom like wheels ! feet trample — 

bullets whir — 
Blessed God ! the Foe is on us. Now the Bugles 

with a start 
Thrill — like the cry of a wronged Queen — to the 

red roots of the heart ; 
And long and loud the wild war-drums with throb- 
bing triumph roll, — 
A sound to set the blood on fire, and warm the 

shivering soul. 



INKERMAN. 28'i 

The war-worn and the weary leapt up ready, fresh, 
and true ! 

No weak blood curdled white i' the face, no valour 
turned to dew ; 

Majestic as a God defied, arose our English 
Host— 

All for the peak of Peril went — each for the fier- 
iest post ! 

Thro' the mist, and thro' the mire, and o'er the hill- 
brow scowling grim, 

As is the frown of Murder when he dreams his 
dreadful dream. 

No Sun ! but none is needed, — Men can feel their 
way to fight, 

The lust of Battle in their face — eyes filled with 
fiery light ; 

And long ere dawn was red in heaven, upon the 
dark earth lay 

The prophesying morning-red of a great and glori- 
ous day. 

As Bridegroom leaves his wedded Bride in gentle 

slumbers sealed, 
Our England slumbered in the West, when her 

YVarriors went a-field. 
We thought of her, and swore that day to strike 

immortal blows, 
As all along our leaguered line the roar of battle 

rose. 
Her Banners waved like blessing hands, and ' 

knew it was the hour 
For a glorious grip till fingers met in the throat of 

Russian power. 
And at a bound, and with a sound that madly cried 

to kill, 
The Lion of Old England leapt like lightning from 

the hill. 



282 INKEKMAN. 

And there he stood superb, thro' all that Sabbath 

of the Sword, 
And there he slew, with a terrible scorn, his hunters, 

horde on horde. 

All Hell seemed bursting on us, as the yelling 

legions came — 
The Cannon's tongues of quick red fire lickt all 

the hills a-iiame ! 
Mad whistling shell, wild sneering shot, with devilish 

glee went past. 
Like fiendish feet and laughter hurrying down the 

battle-blast. 
And thro' the air, and round the hills, there ran a 

wrack sublime 
As tho' the Eternal's Ark were crashing on the 

shores of Time. 
On Bayonets and Swords the smile of conscious 

victory shone, 
As down to death we dasht the Rebels plucking at 

our Throne. 
On, on they came with face of flame, and storm of 

shot and shell — 
Up ! Up ! like heaven-sealers, and we hurled them 

back to Hell. 

Like the old Sea, white-lipped with rage, they dash, 

and foam despair 
On ranks of rock, and what a prize for the Wrecker 

Death was there ! 
But as 'twere River Pleasaunce, did our fellows 

take that flood, 
A royal throbbing in the pulse that beat voluptuous 

blood : 
The Guards went down to the fight in grey, but 

now they're gory red — 
Christ save them, they're surrounded! Leap your 

ramparts of the dead, 



INKERMAN. 283 

And back the desperate battle, for there is but one 

short stride 
Between the Russ and victory ! One more tug, 

you true and tried — 
The Red-Caps crest the hill ! with bloody spur, 

Ride, Bosquet, ride ! 
Down like a Hood from Etna foams their valour's 

burning tide. 

Now, God for Merrie England, cry ! Hurrah for 

France the Grand, 
And charge the foe together, all abreast, and hand 

to hand ! 
He caught a shadowy glimpse across the smoke of 

Alma's fray 
Of the Destroying Angel that shall blast his strength 

to-day. 
We shout and charge together, and asmm, a^ain, 

again, 
Our plunging battle tears its path, and paves it 

with the slain. 
Hurrah ! the mighty host doth melt before our 

fervent heat ; 
Against our side its breaking heart doth faint and 

fainter beat. 
And O, but 'tis a gallant show, and a merry march, 

as thus 
We sound into the glorious goal with shouts vic- 
torious ! 

From morn till night, we fought our fight, and at 

the set of sun 
Stood Conquerors on Inkerman — our Soldiers' 

Battle won. 
That morn their legions stood like corn in its pomp 

of golden grain ! 
That night the ruddy sheaves were reapt upon the 

misty plain ! 



284 INKERMAN. 

We cut fheui down by thunder-strokes, and piled 
the shocks of slain : 

The hill-side like a vintage ran, and reel'd Death's 
harvest-wain. 

We had hungry hundreds gone to sup in Paradise 
that night, 

And robes of Immortality our ragged Braves 
bedight ! 

They fell in Boyhood's comely bloom, and Bra- 
very's lusty pride ; 

But they made their bed o' the Russian dead, ere 
they lay down and died. 

We gathered round the tent-fire in the evening 

cold and gray, 
And thought of those who rankt with us in Battle's 

rich array, 
Our Comrades of the morn who came no more 

from that fell fray ! 
The salt tears wrung out in the gloom of green 

delis far away — 
The eyes of lurking Death that in Life's crimson 

bubbles play — 
The stern white faces of the Dead that on the dark 

ground lay 
Like Statues of old Heroes, cut in precious human 

clay — 
Some with a smile as life had stopt to music proudly 

gay— 

The household Gods of many a heart all dark and 

dumb to-day ! 
And hard hot eyes grew ripe for tears, and hearts 

sank down to pray. 

From alien lands, and dungeon-grates, how eyes 

will strain to mark 
This waving Sword of Freedom burn and beckon 

thro' the dark ! 



NICHOLAS AND THE BRITISH LION. 285 

The Martyrs stir in bloody graves, the rusted 

armour rings 
Adown the long aisles of the dead, where lie the 

warrior Kings. 
To the proud Mother England came the radiant 

Victory 
With Laurels red, and a bitter cup like Christ's 

last agony. 
She took the cup, she drank it up, she raised her 

laurelled brow : 
Her sorrow seemed like solemn joy, she lookt so 

noble now. 
The dim divine of distance died — the purpled Past 

grew wan, 
As came that crowning Glory o'er the heights of 

Inkerman. 



NICHOLAS AND THE BRITISH LION. 

Czar Nicholas called to North and South, 

" Come, see the world's great show ! 
I '11 thrust my head in the Lion's mouth," 

And he laught, " Ha ! Ha ! Ho ! Ho ! " 
" I am the Lion-Tamer dread — 

I make the old brute quail ! " 
The Lion he shook his incredulous head, 

And wagged his dubious tail. 

O the Lion lay down in the pride of his might; 

'T was a brave, magnanimous beast ! 
O the Lion leapt up to his shaggiest height ; 

The lord of a bloody feast ! 
Now hold, now hold, thou desperate man, 

Or thy braggart cheek may pale ; 
Terror is towering up in his mane, 

A.nd Vengeance tugs at his tail. 



286 NICHOLAS AND THE BRITISH LION. 

Like a statue of Satan, Nick, alas ! stood, 

And be chuckled a low lying laugh : 
"The world is my Knoutship's whipping-top; 

Hot blood for wine I quaff! " 
He called to North, he called to South, 

" Come, see the old brute quail : 
I '11 thrust ray head in his mumbling mouth : " 

The Lion he wagged his tail. 

He thrust his head in the Lion's mouth : 

Ho ! Ho ! but the sport was rare ! 
The Lion smelt blood in the giant's breath, 

And his clencht teeth held him there. 
Then he cried, from between the gates of death, 

With the voice of a Spirit in bale, 
" Now God-a-mercy on my soul ! 

Does the Lion wag his tail ? " 

Then each one strove to say him Yea, 

But each one held his breath ; 
For the fires of hell lit the Lion's eyes, 

His looks communed with Death ! 
The Giant's heart melts like snow in his mouth, 

His voice is a woman's wail ; 
The Avenger knocks at the door of his life, 

In that lash of the Lion's tail. 

A low, dread sound, as from underground, 

Now signals the realms of the dead ; 
And the Tamer lies tamed on the earth full-length ; 

That is, except — a head. 
And the poor old beast, at whose aspect mild 

The meanest thing dared rail, 
Shakes his mane like a Conqueror's bloody plumes, 

And — quietly wags his tail. 



a soldier's wife. 28' 



A SOLDIER'S WIFE. 

'•' Around us the night closes dense as a wood, 
The Stars down the darkness like eerie eyes brood . 
While out through the nightfall my fearless thoughts 

flee 
To him who is fighting far over the sea. 

" Across the mii-k moorland the birds of night cry ; 
A wind stirs my flesh as of Ghosts gliding by ; 
Oh, clasp thy hands, pretty one, kneel down with 

me, 
And pray for thy father far over the sea. 

" O, brave is my Darling, and gallant and gay 
He '11 flash through the fight in the wild, bloody 

day; 
He '11 crest the high waves upon Valour's red sea ; 
God shield him ! God send him back safely to 

me !" 

He 's lying, poor Wife ! with the valiant and tried, 
Who to-night poured their life on a ruddy hill-side : 
And still she sings tenderly, " Over the sea, 
Blow, breezes, and bring back my darling to me." 

Her soul it sat smiling, all meek as a dove, 
In her pure perfect face that was lighted with love ; 
Her child to the full heart endearing she drew, 
And bowed like a Flower /neath its blessing of dew. 

Some luminous Beauty glides over the place, 

A white mist of glory ! a white spirit-face ! 

And a starry shape comes slow and sweet from the 

gloom ; 
God help thee, poor Widow ! thy Husband is 

home ! 



288 A WAR WINTER'S-NIGHT IN ENGLAND. 

She knows not the Presence that, hovereth nigh, 
Nor whence fell the slumber that healed her 

heartVcry ; 
But she weeps in her vision, and prayerfully 
Still murmurs, "God send him back safely to me!" 



A WAR WINTER'S-NIGHT IN ENGLAND 

Wild is the wintry weather ! 

Dark is the night, and cold ! 
All closely we crowd together, 

Within the family fold. 
A mute and mighty Shadow flies 

Across the land on wings of Gloom ! 
And thro' each Home its awful eyes 

May lighten with their stroke of doom. 
Life's light burns dim — we hold the breath — 
All sit stern in the shadow of Death, 

Around the household fire — 

This WinterVnight in England, 
Straining our ears for the tidings of War, 

Holding our hearts, like Beacons, up higher, 
For those who are fighting afar. 

We talk of Britain's glory, 

We sing some brave old song, 
Or tell the thrilling story 

Of her wrestle with the wrong. 
Till we clutch the spirit-sword from the strife, 

And into our Rest would rather fall 
Down Battle's cataract of life, 

Than turn the white face to the wall. 
Sing, O, for a charge victorious ! 
And the meekest face grows glorious ! 

As we sit by the household fire, 



A WAR WINTER'S-NIGHT IN ENGLAND. 289 

This Winter's-night in England, — 
Our souls within us like steeds of War ! 

And we hold our hearts, like Beacons, up higher, 
For those who are fighting afar. 

And oft in silence solemn 

We peer from Night's dark tent, 
And see the quivering column 

Like a cloud by lightning rent. 
For death, how merry they mount and ride ! 

Those swords look keen for their lap of gore ! 
Such Valour leaps out Deified ! 

Such souls must rend the clay they wore ! 
How proud they sweep on Glory's track ! 
So many start ! so few come back 

To sit by the household fire, 

On a Winter's-night in England, 
And with rich tears wash their wounds of War, 

Where we hold our hearts, like Beacons, up 
higher, 
For those who are fighting afar. 

We thrill to the Clarion's clangour, 

And harness for the fight : 
With the Warrior's glorious anger, 

We are nobly mad to smite : 
No dalliance, save with Hate, hold we, 

Where Life and Death keep bloody tryst, 
And all the red Reality 

Reels on us through a murder-mist ! 
Wave upon Wave rolls Ruin's flood, 
And the hosts of the Tyrant melt in blood, 

As we sit by the household fire, 

This Winter's-night in England, 
And our colour flies out to the music of War, 

While we hold our hearts, like Beacons, up 
higher, 
For those who are righting afar. 
19 



-0) A WAR WIMTER S-NIGHT IN ENGLAND. 

Old England still hath Heroes 

To wear her sword and shield ! 
We knew them not while near us, 

We know them in the field ! 
Look ! how the Tyrant's hills they climb, 

To hurl our gage in his grim hold ! 
The Titans of the earlier time, 

Tho' larger-limb'd, were smaller-souPd ! 
Laurel, or Amaranth, light their brow ! 
Living or dead, we crown them now ! 

As we sit by the household fire, 

This Winter's-night in England : 
From the white cliffs watching the storm of War, 

Holding our hearts, like Beacons, up higher, 
For those who are fighting afar. 

O ! their brave love hath rootage 

In the Old Land, deep and dear, 
And Life's ripe, ruddy fruitage 

Hangs summering for them here ! 
And tender eyes, tear-luminous, 

Melt thro' the dark of dreamland skies, 
While, pleading aye for home and us, 

The heart is one live brood of cries ! 
Old feelings cling ! O how they cling ! 
And sweet birds sing ! O how they sing 

Them back to the household fire, 

This Winter's-night in England, 
Where we wait for them weary and wounded from 
War, 

Holding our hearts, like Beacons, up higher, 
For those who are fighting afar ! 

Ah, me ! how many a Maiden 

Will wake o' nights, to find 
Her tree of life, love-laden, 

Swept bare in this wild wind ! 
The Bird of bliss, to many a nest, 

Will come back never, never, never ! 



THE martyrs' hill. 291 

So many a goodly, gallant crest 

That waved to victory, low for ever ! 
We pray for them, we fear for them, 
And silently drop a tear for them, 

As we sit by the household fire ; 

This Winter's-night in England, 
Each life looking out for its own love-star ! 

Holding our hearts, like Beacons, up higher, 
For those who are fighting afar. 

But, there 's no land like England, ~ 

Wherever that land may be ! 
Of all the world 't is king-land 

Crown'd, by its Bride, the Sea ! 
And they shall rest i' the balmiest bed, 

Who battle for it, and bleed for it ! 
And they shall be head of the Glorious Dead, 

Who die in the hour of need for it ! 
And long shall we sing of their deeds divine, 
In songs that warm the heart like wine, 

As we sit by the household fire, 

On a Winter's-night in England, 
And the tale is told of this night of War, 

How we held our hearts, like Beacons, up higher, 
For those who were fighting afar. 



THE MARTYRS' HILL. 

Sitting in her sorrow lone, 
Still our Mother makes her moan 
For the Lost ; and to the Martyrs' Hill our thoughts 
in mourning go 

O, that desert of the Dead, 
Who lay down in their death-bed, 
With their winding-sheet and wreath of winter 
snow ! 



292 THE MARTYRS HILL. 

Into glory had they rode 

When the tide of triumph flowed, 

Not a tear would we shed for the heroes lying low. 
But our hearts break for the Dead, 
In their desolate death-bed, 

With their winding-sheet and wreath of winter 



Praying breath rose white in air, 
Eyes were set in a stern stare, 
Hands were stretcht for help that came not as they 
sank in silence low : 

Our grand, our gracious Dead, 
Who lay down in their death-bed, 
With their winding-sheet and wreath of winter 
snow. 

Now the winter snows are gone, 

And Earth smiles as though the Dawn 

Had come up from it in Flowers — such a light of 
grace doth glow 

All about our darkened Dead, 
Who lay down in their death-bed, 

With their winding-sheet and wreath of winter 



But, never, never more, 

Comes the Spring that will restore 

To their own love, their own land, the dear ones 
lying low 

On the Martyrs' Hill, our Dead 
Who lay down in their death-bed, 

With their winding-sheet and wreath of winter 



Till with victory God replies, 
Shall our Battle storm the skies, 
And our living heroes think, as they grapple with 
the foe, 



THE AUSTKIAN. • 29S 

Of our perisht, peerless Dead, 
Who lay down in their death-bed, 
With their winding-sheet and wreath of winter 



Through a hundred battles red, 
Shall their fame float overhead : 

Into everlasting flowers shall their martyr memories 
blow. 

So we crown our glorious Dead, 
Who lay down in their death-bed, 

With their winding-sheet and wreath of winter 



THE AUSTRIAN. 

How shall I help thee, Mother, in thy need ? 

I cried, and lookt my life out thro' mine eyes, 

Across the smoke of thy great Sacrifice. 

Give me some perilous post, or daring deed. 

O might I breathe in Song heroic breath, 

And strike my harp, as Lightning smites his wires, 

To bear God's message with celestial fires ! 

Sing how the Glory of our land hath risen ; 

Sing midnight pseans by the Martyrs' graves 

Walk War's red highways, voyage grim wide 

waves : 
Or in an English cheer go down to death, 
Where the soul bursts in wings on Battle's wind ! 
No ! England waves her Minstrels forth to find 
Our Lion Heart again in Austria's prison. 



294 THE* EXILE TO HIS COUNTRY. 



THE EXILE TO HIS COUNTRY. 

How dimmed is all thy glory, and how dark the 
shadow falls ! 

And wild the sorrow waileth thro' thy hamlets and 
thy halls ! 

Thy banner burns no longer on the mountain and 
the lea, 

And O ! the dead are blessed who thy suffering 
may not see. 

How are thy brave ones scattered on many an alien 
strand ! 

Thy darlings leal and true to the dear old Mother- 
land. 

They have bound thee in the grave-clothes, but we 
watch with tears and sighs, 

Till Freedom comes like Christ, and thou like Laza- 
rus shalt rise. 

Thy pale, pale face, my Country, yet shall flush 
with ripening bloom, 

As Nature's color kindles when the breath of Spring 
doth come. 

O ! come thou Spring of promise ; mighty Hope, 
put forth thy hand, 

And build thy arch of triumph for the dear old 
Motherland. 

The Birds that follow Summer, they come and they 

depart, 
For the Land of my love, and the home of my 

heart : 
And, like a wounded Bird, my spirit trembles in 

the wind, 
4nd flutters down : and they are gone, and I am 

left behind ! 



THE EXILE TO HIS COUNTRY. 295 

my Dovelets in the nest ! O the spoiler's bloocH 

hand ! 
And I so far away from the dear old Mother- 
land. 

Sometimes when life is darkest, a glory bursts its 
glooms, 

As Lightning thro' the startled night, the face of 
things illumes ; 

A sudden splendour smites me, and ere the thun- 
ders roll, 

1 see thy face look radiant thro' the darkness of 

my soul ! 
And thou art sitting at the feet of Freedom, great 

and grand, 
Thy children happy in thy smile, thou dear old 

Motherland. 

O thou among the nations, for thy might shalt yet 
be themed, 

Thy fatal curse of Beauty by Love's blessing all 
redeemed ! 

The red wounds where they pierced thee, shall to 
scars of glory turn, 

And in thy tearful eyes the light of boundless life 
shall burn ! 

The heavens are filled with Martyrs, but the earth 
still holds a band 

Who will meet in battle yet for the dear old Mother- 
land. 

O ! many are the gallant hearts will never answer 

when 
Thy clarion-cry shall call us up to the field 

again ! 
And many are the tears must fall, and prayers go 

up to God, 
But swift the vintage ripens, and the wine-press 

shall be trod ! 



296 cathcart's hill. 

The Harvest reddens rich for death, the Reapers 

clench the hand, 
And Victory comes to claim his Bride, thou dear 

dear Motherland. 



CATHCART'S HILL. 

They have died, our true and tried, ere our flag 
victorious flew 

O'er the burning battle-hell, we must ride to con- 
quest through. 

But they died, our Glorified ! on the field of their 
renown ; 

And they died when the pride of the Foeman's 
power went down. 

Bury them on Cathcart's Hill, 't is a famous grave ! 

Bury them on Cathcart's Hill with our bravest 
Brave ! 

A proud flame in the Death-wind waved the War- 
rior's soaring plume : 

Stern in his shroud of fire, the Foe glared from his 
burning tomb ! 

Victory's shouts were ringing as they flasht from 
out the strife, 

To meet God's angels bringing garlands for the 
Kings of Life. 

Bury them on Cathcart's Hill, 'tis a famous 
grave ! 

Bury them on Cathcart's Hill with our bravest 
Brave ! 

Bear them to that grave in a solemn march and 

slow, 
Let Music talk in tears o'er the great ones lying 

low ; 



cathcaut's hill. 297 

They will sleep calm and deep when the battle- 
bugles blow ; 

And ye shall build their monument when next ye 
meet the Foe ! 

Bury them on Cat-heart's Hill, 't is a famous 
grave ! 

Bury them on Cathcart's Hill with our bravest 
Brave ! 

We quaff our cup o' the vintage, and from dark- 
ened depths arise 

The bubbles, like the tears that plead in Desola- 
tion's eyes ; 

Yet there 's glory in our grief, — 't is a glory that 
shall grow 

When our Sorrow hath no morrow, and 't was cen- 
turies ago. 

Bury them on Cathcart's Hill, 't is a famous 
grave ! 

Bury them on Cathcart's Hill with our bravest 
Brave ! 

Bury them on Cathcart's Hill, — their glory from 

its crest 
Shall flame, a terror to the North, a watchfire to 

the West ! 
Cross their hands and lay their brands upon the 

martial breast, 
They have done with their work, lay them down to 

their rest. 
Bury them on Cathcart's Hill, 't is a famous 

grave ! 
Bury them on Cathcart's Hill with our bravest 

Brave '. 



298 THE COALITION AND THE PEOPLE. 



THE COALITION AND THE PEOPLE. 

O suffering people, this is not our fight, 

Who called a holy crusade for the right 

The Despot's bloody game our tricksters play, 

And stake our future, chance by chance, away. 

O darkened hearts in desolate home-stead ! 

O wasted bravery of our mighty dead ! 

The flower of men fall stricken from behind : 

The Knaves and Cowards stab us bound and 

blind. 
With faces turned from Battle, they went forth : 
We marcht with ours set stern against the North. 
They shuffled lest their feet should rouse the 

dead : 
We went with resurrection in our tread. 
They trembled lest the world might come to 

blows : 
We quivered for the tug and mortal close. 
They only meant a mild hint for the Czar : 
We would have bled him through a. sumptuous 

war. 
While they were quenching Freedom's scattered 

fires, 
We kindled memories of heroic Sires. 
They'd have this grand old England cringe and 

pray, 
" Do n't smite me, Kings ; but if you will, you 

may : " 
We 'd make her as in those proud times of old, 
When Cromwell spoke, and Blake's war-thunders 

rolled. 
They to the passing powers of darkness fawn : 
With warrior joy we greet this crimson Dawn. 
To crowned Bloodsuckers they would bind us 

slaves : 
We would be free, or sleep in glorious graves. 



ALL OVER. 299 

State- Spiders, Here or There, weave webs alike ; 
These hold the victims, while the others strike. 
The Dwarfs drag our great Banner in the mire : 
We ask for men to bear it high and higher. 
O stop their fiddling over War's grim revel, 
And pitch them from your shoulders to — the 
Devil. 



ALL OVER. 

Fades the New Aurora 

That so glorious shone afar, 
We but saw its fair face smiling 

In the ruddy waves of war. 
The peace-fool to his pillow 

Now may sneak, and sleep : 
But a glory gone for ever, 

We must weep ; let us weep. 

Sleep the buried thunders ; 

Their reverberations cease : 
And the grim old War-God 

Must smile — a painted Peace. 
Wild eyes are mad-house windows 

Of Souls that plead in vain ! 
Over their old dark sorrow 

Greeneth the soft spring-rain. 

Had we struck for Freedom 

One immortal battle-blow, 
Like the men who rose for England, 

Two hundred years ago, — 
The dead Nations lying 

Where they fought and fell of old, 
Would have risen from their prison, 

And their buried fla^s unrolled. 



300 ALL OVER. 

Cowards in the Council ! 

Heroes in the field ! 
Is our short sad story 

By the blood of Martyrs sealed. 
On those lone Crimean ridges 

In the night our dead arise ; 
Hear the Norland winds come wailing 

With their curses, and their cries. 

Sublime in all her suffering ! 

In the fight so brave ! 
Poor old England's victories 

Bow her to the grave. 
And the world may see her yet 

Low and lonely lie 
Upon her rock, while Tyrants mock 

As they go riding by. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



HOOD, 

WHO SANG THE SONG OF THE SHIRT. 

r was the old story ! — ever the blind world 

[nows not its Angels of Deliverance 

?ill they stand glorified 'twixt earth and heaven. 

t stones the Martyr ; then, with praying hands, 

>ees the God mount his chariot of fire, 

Ind calls sweet names, and worships what it 

spurn'd. 
t slays the Man to deify the Christ : 
Lnd then how lovingly 't will bind the brows 
Vhere late its thorn-crown laught with cruel 

lips — 
led, and rejoicing from grim Murder's kiss ! 
?o those who walk beside them, great men seem 
lere common earth ; but distance makes them 

stars. 
Is dying limbs do lengthen out in death, 
io grows the stature of their after-fame ; 
bid then we gather up their glorious words, 
Ind treasure up their names with loving care. 
>o Hood, our Poet, lived his martyr-life : 
Vith a swift soul that travell'd at such speed, 
Ind struck such flashes from its flinty road, 
?hat by its trail of radiance through the dark, 
Ye almost see th' unfeatured Future's face, — 
bid went uncrown'd to his untimely tomb. 
}ertes, the World did praise his glorious Wit — 
?he merry Jester with his cap and bells ! 
bid sooth, his wit was like Ithuriel's spear : 
5ut 't was mere lightning from the cloud of his 

life, 



304 HOOD. 

Which held at heart most rich and blessed rain 

Of tears melodious, that are worlds of love ; 

And Rainbows, that would bridge from earth to 

heaven ; 
And Light, that would have shone like Joshua's 

sun 
Above our long death-grapple with the Wrong ; 
And thunder-voices, with their Words of fire, 
To melt the Slave's chain, and the Tyrant's crown. 
His wit ? — a kind smile just to hearten us ! — 
Rich foam-wreaths on the waves of lavish life, 
That flasht o'er precious pearls and golden sands. 
But, there was that beneath surpassing show ! 
The starry soul, that shines when all is dark ! — 
Endurance, that can suffer and grow strong — 
Walk through the world with bleeding feet, and 

smile ! — 
Love's inner light, that kindles Life's rare colours, 
Bright wine of Beauty for the longing soul ; 
And thoughts that swathe Humanity with such 

glory 
As limns the outline of the coming God 
In him were gleams of such heroic splendours 
As light this cold, dark world up as a star 
Array'd in glory for the eyes of heaven : 
And a great heart that beat according music 
With theirs of old, — God-likest kings of men ! 
A conquering heart ! which Circumstance, that 

frights. 
The Many down from Love's transfiguring height, 
Aye mettled into martial attitude. 
He might have clutcht the palm of Victory 
In the world's wrestling-ring of mightiest deeds ; 
But he went down a precious Argosy 
At sea, just glimmering into sight of home, 
With its rare freightage from diviner climes. 
The world may never know the wealth it lost, 
When Hood went darkling to his tearful tomb, 
So mighty in his undevelopt force ! 



HOOD. 305 

With all his crowding unaccomplished hopes ! 
Th' unuttered wealth and glory of his soul ! 
And all the music ringing round his life, 
And poems stirring in his dying brain. 
O ! blessings on him for the songs he sang — 
Which vearn'd about the world till then for birth ! 
How like a bonny bird of God he came, 
And pour'd his heart in music for the Poor ; 
Who sit in gloom while sunshine floods the land, 
And feel through darkness, for the hand of Help ! 
And trampled Manhood heard, and claimed his 

crown, 
And trampled Womanhood sprang up ennobled ! 
The human soul lookt radiantly through rags ! 
And there was melting of cold hearts, as when 
The ripening sunlight fingers frozen flowers. 
O ! blessings on him for the songs he sang ! 
When all the stars of happy thought had set 
In many a mind, his spirit walkt the gloom 
Clothed on with beauty, as the regal Moon 
Walks her night-kingdom, turning clouds to light. 
Our Champion ! with his heart too big to beat 
In bonds, — our Poet in his pride of power ! 
Ay, we '11 remember him who fought our fight, 
And chose the Martyr's robe of flame, and 

spurn'd 
The gold and purple of the glistering slave. 
His Mausoleum is the People's heart, 
There he lies crown'd and glorified, — our King 
In state, with singing robe wrapt richly round. 
But 't is not meet, my England, his dear dust 
Should lie where splendid flatteries flaunt on 

tombs, 
As treachery serves to brighten wanton tears — 
With not a line of letter'd love to tell 
What mighty heart lies quencht and broken there. 
So let us build our Poet's monument ! 
With passionate hearts of love for corner-stones, 
And tears that temper for immortal fame. 
20 



306 SIR ROBERTS SAILOR SOX. 

And it were well, ray England, shouldst thoa 

come 
To weep some honest drops above his grave. 
Our Hood is worthy of eternal praise 
And blessings, and dear heart-amenities, 
As warrior Wellington, who rode to fame 
On Death's white horse, by Battle's crimson path 



SIR ROBERT'S SAILOR SON. 

Our country has no need to raise 

The ghosts of glories gone ; 
Such heroes dying in our days, 

Still pass the live torch on. 
Brave blood as bright a crimson gleams, 

Still burns as goodly zeal ; 
The old heroic radiance beams 

In men like William Peel. 

With beautiful bravery clothed on, 

And such high moral grace, 
The flash of rare soul-armour shone 

Out of his noble face ! 
So mild in peace, so stern in war, 

He walkt our English way, 
Just one of Shakespeare's Warriors for 

A weary working day. 

His Sailors loved him so on deck, 

So cheery was his call, 
They leapt on land, and in his wake 

Followed him, guns and all. 
For, as a battle-brand red-hot, 

His Spirit grew and glowed, 
When in his swift war-chariot 

The Avenger rose and rode. 



SIR ROBERT'S SAILOR SON. 30 7 

Sleep, Sailor Darling, true and brave, 

With our dead Soldiers sleep ! 
That so the land you lived to save, 

You shall have died to keep. 
You may have wished the dear Sea-blue 

To have folded round your breast, 
But God had other work for you, 

And other place of rest. 

We might have reacht you with our wreath 

If living ; but laid low, 
You grow so grand ! and after death 

The dearness deepens so ! 
To have gone so soon, so loved to have died, 

So young to wear that, crown, 
We think. But with such thrills of pride 

As shake the last tears down. 

God rest you, gallant William Peel, 

With those whom England leaves, 
Scattered as still she plies her steel, 

But God gleans up in sheaves. 
We '11 talk of you on land, on board, 

Till Boys shall feel as Men, 
And forests of hands clutch at this Sword 

Death gives us back again. 

Our old Norse Fathers speak in you, 

Speak with their strange sea-charm, 
That sets our hearts a-beating to 

The music of the storm. 
There comes a Spirit from the deep, 

The salt wind waves its wings, 
That rouses from its Inland sleep 

The blood of the old Sea Kings. 



308 THE OLD LAND. 



THE OLD LAND. 

O leal high hearts of England, 

The evil days are near; 
When ye, with steel in heart and hand, 

Must strike for all that's dear ! 
And better tread the bloodiest deck, 

And fieriest field of fame, 
Than break the heart and bow the neck, 

And sit in the shadow of shame. 
Let Despot, Death, or Devil come, 

United here we stand : 
We '11 safely guard our Island- Home, 

Or die for the dear old Land. 

O, Warriors of Old England, 

You '11 hurry to the call ; 
And her good ships shall sail the storm, 

With their merry mariners all. 
In words she wasteth not her breath, 

But be the trumpet blown, 
And in the Battle's dance of death, 

She '11 dance the bravest down. 
Let Despot, Death, or Devil come, 

United here we stand : 
We'll safely guard our Island-Home, 

Or die for the dear old Land. 

Success to our dear England, 

When dark days come again ; 
And may she rise up glorious 

As the rainbow after rain. 
A thousand memories warm us still, 

And, ere the old spirit dies, 
The purple of each wold and hill 

From English blood shall rise. 



THE FIGHTING TEMERAIRE. 309 

Let Despot, Death, or Devil come, 

United here we stand : , 
We'll safely guard our Island-Home, 

Or die for the dear old Land. 

God strike with our dear England ! 

Long may the old land be 
The guiding glory of the world, 

The home of the fair and free ! 
Old Ocean on his silver shield 

Shall lift our little Isle 
Unvanquisht still by flood or field, 

While the heavens in blessing smile. 
Let Despot, Death, or Devil come, 

United here we stand : 
We '11 safely guard our Island-Home, 

Or die for the dear old Land. 



THE FIGHTING TEMERAIRE TUGGED 
TO HER LAST BERTH. 

It is a glorious tale to tell 

When nights are long and mirk ; 
How well she fought our fight, how well 

She did our England's work ; 

Our good Ship Temeraire ! 

The fighting Temeraire ! 
She goeth to her last long home, 

Our grand old Temeraire. 

Bravely over the breezy blue 

They went to do or die ; 
And proudly on herself she drew 

The Battle's burning eye ! 

Our good Ship Temeraire ! 

The fighting Temeraire ! 



310 THE FIGHTING TEMERAIRE. 

She goeth to her last long home, 
Our grand old Temeraire. 

Round her the Glory fell in flood, 

From Nelson's loving smile, 
When, raked with fire, she ran with blood 

In England's hour of trial ! 

Our good Ship Temeraire ! 

The fighting Temeraire ! 
She goeth to her last long home, 

Our grand old Temeraire. 

And when our darling of the Sea 

Sank dying on his deck, 
With her revenging thunders she 

Struck down his foe — a wreck. 

Our good Ship Temeraire ! 

The fighting Temeraire ! 
She goeth to her last long home. 

Our grand old Temeraire. 

Her day now draweth to its close 

With solemn sunset crowned ; 
To death her crested beauty bows, 

The night is folding round. 

Our good Ship Temeraire ! 

The fighting Temeraire ! 
She goeth to her last long home, 

Our grand old Temeraire. 

No more the big heart in her breast 

Will heave from wave to wave. 
Weary and war-worn, ripe for rest, 

She glideth to her grave. 

Our good Ship Temeraire ! 

The fighting Temeraire ! 
She goeth to her last long home, 

Our grand old Temeraire. 



A DAY AT CRAIGCROOK CASTLE. 311 

In her dumb pathos desolate 

As night among the dead ! 
Yet wearing an exceeding weight 

Of glor} r on her head. 

Our good Ship Temeraire ! 

The fighting Temeraire ! 
She goeth to her last long home, 

Our grand old Temeraire. 

Good bye ! good bye ! Old Temeraire, 

A sad and proud good bye ! 
The stalwart spirit that did wear 

Your sternness, shall not die. 

Our good Ship Temeraire ! 

The fighting Temeraire ! 
She goeth to her last long home, 

Our grand old Temeraire. 

Thro' battle blast, and storm of shot, 

Your Banner we shall bear ; 
And fight for it like those who fought 

Our good Ship Temeraire. 

The righting Temeraire ! 

The conquering Temeraire ! 
She goeth to her last long home, 

Our grand old Temeraire. 



A DAY AT CRAIGCROOK CASTLE. 

I. 

Life is at most a Meeting and a Parting ; 
.4 glimpse into the world of Might-have-been. 
And standing rapt on some new-trodden height, 
We long to build a tabernacle there. 



312 A DAY AT CRAIGCROOK CASTLE. 

A sudden glorious glimpse, a nestling face, 
Will bid the kingly moment live for ever. 
Ah, could we paint their picture in the mind, 
And breathe the blessed breath of Beauty back ! 

We think how on some heavenly day the Sun 

Gathered his glory for a grand repose ; 

And with hor folding stillness Eve came down, 

So meek and shadowy, bringing healing dews, 

While Angels walkt our garden of the soul. 

How on a summer morn the dewy lanes 

In sunny England took us in cool arms. 

Or, in a wondrous Moonlight long ago, 

The face of early Love upturned to us 

Two human stars that swam in bridal dew ; 

With brow of virgin white, and cheek's warm touch ; 

The full heart's sweetness parting young red lips ; 

And, caught by some surprise o' the tender time, 

Our Deity half' forgot her veiling cloud, 

And pure soul all in silent beauty smiled. 

So Memory maketh rich the house of life, 
Where our great moments come as gorgeous guests ; 
At Fancy's touch the walls with pictures bloom, 
And rosy recollections rise around. 

Even so I linger o'er my perfect day. 
Whose fruitful round of ripe and crowded life 
In its sole glory summed a golden age ; 
Whose whispering memory cometh like an air 
Of heaven wafting warm immortal breath ; 
Then leaves me softly as the Dove of Day, 
That shakes down dews of freshness as it goes. 



II- 

In that sweet season when the Year is green, 
And hearts grow merry as spring-groves full of 
birds, 



A DAY AT CRAIGCHOOK CASTLE. 31.3 

And young Earth putteth forth the lovely things 
She hath been dreaming through long winter 

nights ; 
Taking the May-tide in a golden swim, 
Her blithe heart singing for the flooding cheer ; 
While life for pleasure ripples as it runs ; 
With dainty colour the kindling country dawns; 
Death lieth low ; his hidden footprints bloom ; 
Upon his grave Life danceth all in flowers : 
And lying shell-like on our shore o' the world, 
We are caught up to listening ear of Heaven, 
That leaneth down maternal meek to heai 
Our inner murmurs of the eternal sea : 
Then Craigc rook puts its budding glory on. 
An emerald Eden nestling in the North : 
To which the mariner worn on life's salt wave, 
Might point his prow and find a conqueror's home, 
And storm-tost Love up-fold his wearied wings. 

A happy island in a sea of green, 

Smiling it lies beneath the changing sky, 

Well pleased, and conscious that each wave and 

wind 
Is tempered kindly or with blessing rich : 
And all the quaint cloud-messengers that come 
Voyaging the blue Heaven's summer sea, 
Soft, shining, sumptuous, blown by languid breath, 
Touch tenderly, or drop with ripeness down. 
Spring builds her leafy nest for birds and flowers, 
And folds it round luxuriant as the Vine 
When grapes are filled with wine of merry cheer: 
The Summer burns her richest incense there, 
Swinging the censers of her thousand flowers : 
Brown Autumn comes o'er seas of glorious gold : 
And there old Winter keeps some greenth of heart, 
When on his head the snows of age are white. 

Mid glimpsing greenery at the hill-foot stands 
The castle with its tinv town of towers : 



314 A DAY AT CRAIGCIiOOK CASTLE. 

A smiling Martyr to the climbing strength 

Of Ivy that will crown the old bald head, 

And Roses that will mask him merry and young, 

Like an old Man with Children round his knees. 

With cups of colour how the Roses rise 

On walls and bushes, red and yellow and white ; 

A dance and d.izzle of Roses range all round. 

The path runs down and peeps out in the lane 

That loiters on by fields of wheat and bean, 

Till the white-gleaming road winds city-ward. 

Afar, in floods of sunshine blinding white, 

The City lieth in its quiet pride, 

With castled crown, looking on Towns and Shires, 

And Hills from which cloud-highlands climb the 

heavens : 
A happy thing in glory smiles the Firth ; 
Its flowing azure winding like an arm 
Around the warm waist of the yielding land. 



III. 

I rose betimes upon my day of days ; 
Through faery forests of the lady fern, 
Went up the wooded height to see the Dawn, 
That new, eternal Picture fresh from God, 
Quicken and colour into perfect life. 
Quietly, quietly slept the world beside 
The sepulchre of the dark, till Light awoke. 
The haunting spirit of each lonely place 
Seemed passing through the still and solemn wood. 
What breath of life the breeze of morning blew ! 
What dewy smell and after-sense of showers 
Came wooing like rich airs from secret shores 
To those who sail into the eternal dawn ! 
Bird after bird the waking stillness stirred, 
As Earth were warbling some new tune of joy 
With which her heart gusht, and its radiance fired 



A DAY AT CRAIGCROOK CASTLE. 315 

Her face, as she arrayed to meet the morn. 
The meek and melting amethyst of dawn 
Blusht o'er the blue hills in the ring o' the world ; 
Up emerald twilights came the shining sea 
Of sunlight, breaking in a silent surge, 
Whence Morning like the birth of Beauty rose ; 
And, at a rosy touch, the clouds that lay 
In sullen purples round the hills of Fife, 
Adown her pathway spread their cloaks of gold : 
The sil very -green-and- violet sheen o' the sea 
Changed into shifting opal tinct with gold : 
And like an Alchymist with furnace-face, 
The Sun smiled on his perfect work, pure gold. 

The breath of Dawn brought God's good-morning 

kiss 
To bud and leaf and flower, and human hearts 
That like pond-lilies open heavenward eyes. 
Sweet lilies of the valley, tremulous fair, 
Peep through their curtains claspt with diamond 

dew 
By faery jewellers working while they slept : 
The Pansies, pretty little puritans, 
Come peering up with merry eyes to see 
How sleeping Beauty wakens as the sun 
Doth kiss her in the sly green secrecies ! 
And arch Laburnum droops her budding gold 
From emerald fingers, with such taking grace. 
The Lilac is alight with all her stars: 
Wall-flowers in fragrance burn themselves away 
With the sweet Season on her precious pyre ; 
Pure passionate aromas of the Rose, 
And purple perfume of the Hyacinth, 
Come like a colour thro' the golden day. 
A summer soul is in the Limes ; they stand 
Low murmuring honied things that wing forth 

Bees; 
Their busy whisperings done, the Poplars hush ! 
But lo, a warm wind winnowing odour-rain 



316 A DAY AT CRAIG CROOK CASTLE. 

Goes breathing by, and there they curtsey meek, 

Or toss their locks in frolic wantonness, 

And a great gust of joy runs shivering thro' them ; 

All the leaves thrill and sparkle wild as Avings. 

Voluptuously ripening in the sun, 

The Meadows swell their bosom plump Avith life. 

The Buttercups spread tiny laps to take 

The warm gold showering down from heaven, and 

oft 
Each to its croAvned likeness nods and smiles. 
The Birds low-crooning o'er their sweet Spring- 
tunes 
Still touch them Avith a riper luxury : 
That Blackbird Avith the Avine of joy is melloAA r , 
And in his song keeps laughing, he's so jolly, 
To think Iioav summer pulps the fruit for him. 
The Apple-tree hath felt the ruddying breath 
Of May upon her yielding leafy lips, 
Look Iioav she flushes over ! warm in Avhite ! 

Deep after deep the generous heart of Spring, 
Full of glad days, hath opened into bloom, 
Ripe Avith all sAveetness. 

CroAvn us, lusty leaves ! 
Shake down your gathered coolness, O green 
leaves ! 



IV. 

At Craigcrook Castle all that bounteous day 
Rare talk we had and sweet society, 
To floating filled Avith bright Olympian life. 
Under the tender trees, Avhere rippled grass 
Caressed us Avith its smiles, Ave sat, and Avatcht 
The rich World in her blooming airy nest, 
Warm-burnishing her colours like a Bird 
O' the Sun, to soar on silent wings of light ; 
And Heaven brooding down with golden eye, 
Where Sunlight, seeking hidden Shadow, toucht 



A DAY AT CRAIGCROOK CASTLE. 317 

The green leaves all a-tremble as they played. 
While One whose looks were mild as they had 

drawn 
A Christ-like sweetness from the face of Babes, — 
His brow the triumph-arch of royal soul — 
A Prodigal of Freedom whose great heart, 
Big- as the world it floods with wealth to-day, 
Must eat to-morrow of the Stranger's husks — 
Prometheus on his rock of exile — told 
The vision passing solemn thro' his soul. 

Ah ! how they drank the breath of Battle, won 
Its swarthy bloom, those spirits fiery-fine I 
O, gallant hearts, how stalwartly they stood ; 
How fought the faithful, how the deathless died ! 
And there in saviour sepulchres they sleep, 
Crowned with the diadem o' the kingly Dead ; 
Green graves on earth, — high memories in heaven. 
And how the night came down with treachery 

dark, 
But reddened with the light of burning homes, 
That lit the Hangman while he knit his noose : 
Then silence, at the hush of Death, above ; 
Nought but a ghastly Golgotha below. 

And O, but hearts flew out, like Freedom's bird, 

To flap their wings upon the flag of war. 

And fierce looks flasht, and prayers went up tc 

God, 
In^ fiery chariots of our fervent hearts. 
And eyes were veiled with noble tears to see 
That Exile by the hounds of torture trackt ; 
Who, while they tore his stricken life, still drank 
His cup of trembling, smiling very calm. 

Fight on, thou Hero ! Heaven's glooming look 
Frowns only on the wrong. This dark shall break 
In resurrection hour. The chariot wheels 
Of coming Vengeance spin too swift for sight. 



318 A DAY AT CRAIGCROOK CASTLE. 

The Nemesis of Nations only waits, 

Until the glass of Destiny runs out, 

To wake the Murderers with her whip of fire, 

Caught by the hair in sudden hands of Hell ! 

While in a ruddy rain old Earth laughs up. 

O, we shall see a sight ere England's sun 

Goes down behind her hills of gathered gold ! 

The time of times, the year of years is nigh ! 

When Spring's young hopes lie dead, and her 

sweet buds 
Are low in dust, our Autumn fruitage comes. 
Princes shall meet thee in thy Country's gate ; 
Thy Banner yet shall crown her topmost height, 
And all the world shall see it waving there. 



In the green quiet of a neighbouring knoll 
There sat and sang a beauteous company. 
Aurelia with the royal brows, and breast 
Bounding with hurrying heart, wave-wanton, for 
A rich repose on some Elysian shore : . 
A gorgeous passion-flower of Womanhood 
Come, golden-natured, to its summer throne : 
Her eyes, the stars of burning dreams, so rapt 
The spirit moth-like for their fire, you might 
Have gone to death by sword-light for their smile, 
And sullen beauty of her mouth's ripe bloom. 
And Mabel, saintly sweet and fairily fine 
As maiden rising from enchanted mere ; 
Pale as a lily crowned with moonlight calm : 
A queenly creature with her quiet grace, 
And dazzling white hand veined cerulean : 
Upon her warm-waved hair the rippled light 
Played soft, and fleckt it into cloudy gold ; 
Her eyes of violet-grey were coloured rich 
With gloom of tender thought, and mirrored large 
Within them, starry futures swam and shone : 



A DAY AT CRAIGCROOK CASTLE. 319 

Ah ! what a smile to fill a life with light, 

And make the waking heart to sing in sleep ! 

How precious in some costly cup of love, 

The perfect pearl of her star-purity ! 

And stately Charmian with her grander calm, 

Like a Greek Goddess Statue that had raised 

The veil of being in some diviner dawn, 

And yearning Love did woo her into Woman. 

With merry melting mouth and subtle eyes, 

And warm heart glowing her white silence through 

She rose up in her crown the Queen of Smiles 

With all the old majesty, unweeting of 

The old worship conscious hearts in silence pay ; 

Our English vesture cannot mask her mould. 

And She, with dancing sparkle in her eyes, 

Like sun-kist waters twinkling sapphirine, 

Our Seeress with whose soul the Spirits walk: 

Who told strange mysteries in Waking Sleep, 

And held your hand and read your Book of life ; 

Whose presence weirdly took the throbbing heart 

Bird-like, as it were caught in spirit-figures ; 

Whose visioned face would shine so glorified, 

You lookt with heavenward instinct up to see 

Whence came such beauty as brake thro' Raphael's 

dream. 
They sang those wailing old Scotch songs that set 
The heart-strings all a-tremble for their harp : 
In which melodious Passion breaks its heart 
For evermore, and finds no spousal words. 
And mingling oft in Music's airy storm, 
Spirit with spirit crossed in tingling touch ; 
Till eveiy nerve seemed an immortal sense, 
For Life to draw the hovering heaven down. 



VI. 

Some played at bowls upon unwrinkled sward, 
And drank old ale with ruby flame in it, 



320 A DAY AT CRAIGCROOK CASTLE. 

Where sunny laurels twinkled silver lights ; 
While others traced the footprints of grey Time, 
Long fossilized : some by the Sea — that glowed 
In living azure and inviolate calm — 
Peered in the portal of its wonder-world. 
Some showered playful palms down in the path, 
And deckt with flowers the marriage-robe of One 
Who brought his beauteous Bride in triumph 

home : 
A jolly Briton, princely to the poor. 
His rich heart-warming ruddiness of look 
Might make an east wind reel off mellow and 

mild : 
So sunnily his inner ripeness smiled: 
And stalwart stood the sheltering wall of his life, 
For climbing flower and fruit to bud and bear. 
Her fragrant weight of warm and loving life, 
That dwined with tender want of folding arms, 
Half-sad with sweetness like a dew-droopt flower, 
Stirs in his smile and rises ruddy and white, 
With breath that maketh dim his dallying eyes : 
Glowing imperial as the sun-toucht Rose ! 
A young Aurora of the Bridal-Dawn. 
Her eyes wide-wakened by Love's' quickening 

kiss, — 
Sweet-drunken with the wine of tears, — foreshow 
How Love hath hived his honey in her heart. 
And there they walk their rosy marriage time, 
With gracious words that brighten listening brows 
Like crowns of splendour, as the first pair vvalkt 
Their morning of the world in Paradise. 

Our Poet, Rubens, scoffed at Wedded Love, 

And drew a piteous picture of our friend 

In harness, drawing the matrimonial car, 

Heavily laden, along the ruts of life. 

But in his voice the re hissed a thirsty sound, 

As when the dry leaves rustle for the rain. 

With longing eyes he mockt the laughing grapes, 



A DAY AT CRAIGCROOK CASTLE. 321 

And six weeks after held out eager hands, 
To take the bonds that bind for evermore : 
And quietly joined the herd of pastured Slaves, 
Where nuptial Love thro' sweet tears on him 
smiled. 

Up spoke our Host. A sunny life was his 
Among his children, breathing blooms of health, 
He, like a rennet Apple wrinkle ripe, 
Hived full of sweetness, fragrant to the taste, 
Tho' Sorrow's tooth should strike the brave heart's 

core — 
He had the happy soul which, like the Bee, 
Rocks with delight upon a thistle-top, 
Or finds voluptuous honey on wild moors. 
And cheerily he chirpt of Wedded Love, 
And Home our refuge from the mad-world-strife, 
Where we may keep the spirit-sandals clean, 
We soil so on our treadmill of a world ; 
And open heaven in the shut up heart : 
Where Love may help us hand-in-hand across 
The dark stream of Eternity, as Life 
Goeth on starry stepping-stones to God. 
Ah ! how it made him turn to his dear nest, 
And proudly yearn o'er his dear marriage guest, 
Who made their little world so bright with bliss, 
It drew God's Angels blessing-laden down. 
And as he spoke, the dead flowers in our hearts 
All pressed and precious, softly stirred with life ; 
Bloomed on our brows, and shed a fragrance 

round. 
In silence sat our Crimean Hero, he 
Who told us how they fought at Inkerman : 
His heart swam up in tears at thoughts of Home. 
The roar and rack of Battle over and gone ; 
No more surprises in the bloody trench, 
Where midnight swarmed with visions horrible, 
And earth was like a fiery coast of hell ! 
All that lonor aching wintriness of soul, 
21 



322 A DAY AT CRAIGCROOK CASTLE. 

Warm-melted in the arms of Wedded Love, 
That drew him from the bloody battle-press, 
And claspt him safe in their serene of heaven, 
Where Past and Future crown him as they kiss. 
And with dumb eloquence his poor armstump 

moved, 
As it were dreaming of a dear embrace. 



VII. 

A silvered Sage like some old pictured Saint, 
Smilingly took the crucial hand of Doubt, 
And thrust stern fingers in his spirit-wounds ; 
And told us how he hunted shadows once, 
And felt his spiritual pulse ten times an hour, 
With thoughts of Self fatal as Herod's worms. 
And how the Child rose up and led the Man 
Back very lowly to their Mother's knee : 
Worshipping God as in the dear old days. 
" ' They wrought in faith,' and not ' They wrought 

in doubt,' 
Is the proud epitaph inscribed above 
Our glorious Dead who in their grandeur lie, 
Crowned with the garland of eternity. 
Because they did believe, and conquered Doubt, 
They lived great lives and did their deathless 

deeds, 
Who in the old time walkt their perilous way, 
With the grey hairs of kingly sorrow crowned : 
Who laid their heads upon the bloody block 
For their last pillow : who amid the flames 
Bore witness still, and with their quivering hands 
Sowed every wind with sparks of fiery thought. 
Because they did believe, we kneel to read 
Where men and angels mingle tears of joy. 
Because he did believe, Columbus sailed 
For that new world his inner eyes had seen. 
He found : so Faith its new worlds yet shall find, 



A DAY AT CRAIGCROOK CASTLE. 323 

While Doubt shakes its wise head and stays be- 
hind. 
Newton believed for many a year before 
The Hand in heaven shook the Apple down. 
Because we have believed, our knowledge comes : 
Belief, not Doubt, will touch the secret spring. 
Belief is that soul-attitude which sees 
How the pure distance of some infinite sea 
Relieves the dark ground of our inlaiid life, 
And feels the fresh spray make its colour bloom. 
But Doubt turns from the light, and only sees 
The Shadow that it casts, and follows it ; 
For Doubt is ever its own Deity : 
The Shadow still dilates on darkened eyes, 
And lengthens as the awful night comes down. 

" Life is a maze, but God i' the centre sits. 

I wailed and wandered in the winding ways ; 

Against the thorns with bleeding bosom beat, 

And vainly shouted to the passing stars, — 

Those silent spirit-vanishing-points of space, — 

That voyaged Ship-like on nor saw my wreck. 

I shriekt out with the scorners, ' There's no God !' 

Sat in the womb o' the world like Babe unborn, 

And blindly said, ' There is no life to come.' 

Then my Beloved came, and drew me in 

A little nearer to the heart of light. 

A lightning-glimpse from out the cloud of Death 

Stern revelation rifted, and I fell 

Prone on my face, heart-broken in the dust. 

Her vase of love was broken at my feet, 

And all the precious perfume filled my life. 

Breathed thro' the dark a still voice low and 

sweet : 
' Let Faith but climb the tree of prayer, and watch 
And wait, the Lord will surely pass that way,' 
And down a dream of peace a spirit hand 
Slid into mine, and at its dewy touch 
Existence melted in the dawning heaven, 



324 A DAY AT CRAIGCKOOK CASTLE. 

And human flowering of divine delight. 

It led me to my kneeling-place among 

The pilgrims of the world who sought in vain, 

And closed their eyes in tears, to suddenly find 

God sitting in his temple of the soul." 

There was strange glory in the old Man's eyes, 
Which, with life's setting splendour shone aglow 
Like windows lighted by the sinking sun 
That paints fair morrow ; and a soul of sweetness 
Smiled from each wrinkle ! pleasant was the sight . 
For he had reacht the shining Sunset Isles 
That fade into the eternal Heavens, and lo ! 
The Hesper of a happy memory smiles. 

Now Sunset burns. A sea of gold on fire 

Serenely surges around purple isles : 

O'er billows and flame-furrows Day goes down. 

Far-watching clouds with ruby glimmer bloom 

A scattered crowd that on its face still wears 

The splendid light and life of some brave show. 

Dews swarm upon the flowers like silent bees. 

Afar and faintlier sounds retiring life ; 

Husht woods grow solemn dark ; the blue peaks 

fade ; 
Weird mists rise white, and gracious Twilight 

comes ; 
Sweet is the mystery of her loveliness ; 
And all tilings feel her dim Divinity. 

We gathered all within the house, and then: 
Shook off the purple silence of the night. 
Cried one : " Come let us a Symposium hold, 
And each one to the banquet bring our best 
In song or story ; all shall play a part." 
So, for a leader simple and grand, we chose 
Our Miracle-worker in Midwifery, He 
Who wrestled with the fiend of corporal pain, 
And stands above the writhing Agony, 



NEW YEAR'S EVE IX EXILE. 325 

Like Michael with the Dragon 'neath his heel : 

Who is in soul — Love riding on a Lion ; 

In body — a Bacchus crowned with head of Jove • 

The keen life looks out in his lighted face 

So fulgent that the gazer's brightens too : 

He bravely towers above our fume and fret, 

Like the old Hills whose feet are in the surge, 

And on their lifted brows the eternal calm : 

For he is one of those prophetic spirits 

That are a World's night-dreams of things to 

come. 
Bravely he broacht the sparkling Hyppocrene, 
And round and round the chalice went till morn. 



NEW YEAR'S EVE IN EXILE. 

1854. 

The flower and chivalry of many lands 
Betrothed to Martyrdom as to a Bride, — 
Warriors of Freedom who for heritage 
Wear on their brows a mark as curst as Cain's, — 
Had met together, a strange companie ! 
But brothers, battling in one sacred cause. 
They were heroic souls who had lain life's all 
On Freedom's hungry Altar, and gone forth 
Clad in the spirit of self-sacrifice, 
To roam a thankless world with homeless hearts, — 
Men who had tost on Danger's wildest waves, 
For whom a radiant Victory ever shone, 
Like Hero on her watch-tower with her torch, 
Lighting her lover through the shadow of death, — 
Men who had broken Battle's burning lines. 
Dealing life with their looks, death with their 

hands, 
And strode like Salamanders through War's flame; 
And in the last stern charge of desperate valour, 



326 NEW YEAR'S EVE IX EXILE. 

On Death's scythe dasht with force that turn'd its 

edge. 
Some were but youths, yet with such manhood 

flusht, 
By eager leaps to catch at lordlier life, 
They had attain'd the old heroic stature. 
Some had grown grey with battle, some with years, 
And there were ancient Sorrows grand as kings 
Of an old peerless line. Such silent Griefs 
And Sufferings crown'd for immortality. 
Earnest as fire they sate, and reverent 
As though a God were pvesent'in their midst; 
Stern, but serene and hopeful, prayerful, brave, 
As Cromwell's Ironsides on a battle-eve ; 
Each individual life as clencht and knit, 
As though beneath their robes their fingers clutcht 
The weapon sworn to strike a Tyrant down, 
That would not flash except to light his fall. 
Such proud Belief did lift their kindling brows, 
Such glowing purpose hunger'd in their eyes, 
AVith fire enough to set a world in flames. 
No servile souls, that at your fixed look, 
Like meek worms, writhe into their darkening 

holes. 
And One up-rose to word the Thought that ran 
Hot to their hearts and glittering to their brows; 
An old man, with the mournfull'st, thin, grey hair ; 
The lines of suffering in his face seem'd drawn 
Tight with the mortal tug of Agony ; 
But with sad majesty he smiled, and splendour 
Broke sweetly from the furrows of his face, 
As wrinkles on the waters laugh with light. 
Dilating as a Prophet's wings of flame 
Flutter'd within him — all his aspect burn'd 
With an unearthly fire. He was caught up 
The mount Transfiguration, with eyes fixt 
On air, as though he talkt with one beyond. 
He stood there looking down the unseen time, 
Like some hoar Hill that lifts its solemn peak 



NEW YEAK'S EVE IN EXILE. 327 

To catch the unrisen Morn, while all the plains 
Are drowsed and darkling. He already sunn'd 
Him in the glory of the coming day. 
And his words swept their yielding, springing 

hearts, 
As strong winds take a field of billowing corn. 
" The merry bells are jubilant To-night 
Through all the land of Exile ; blithe wine laughs 
Its bubbling laughter, — winking gem-like eyes, 
And leaps up in the beaker like red lips 
Whose kisses storm the inner gates of bliss. 
But not with mirth, and song, and dainty feast, 
We meet to hold our solemn festival. 
We wait the wine of Freedom : when it runs, 
We shall wax merry, too, — perchance grow 

drunken — 
They keep it ripening to such mellow age ! 
And we shall banquet like Immortals fed 
By Hebe's hand at the Ambrosial feasts. 
The New Year flashes on us sadly grand, 
Leaps in our midst with ringing armour on, 
Strikes a mail'd hand in ours, and bids us arm 
Ere the first trumpet sound the onset hour. 
Dense darkness lies on Europe's winter-world. 
Stealthy and grim the Bear comes creeping on, 
Out of the North, and all the Peoples sleep 
By Freedom's smouldering watch-fire : there is none 
To snatch the brand, and dash it in his face. 
Old England sleeps, and still the Bear creeps on. 
All ! she forgetteth how, in the old years, 
The great hearts of her glorious Commonwealth 
Sent thunder-throbbmgs through the lands, and 

gave them 
Such a new pulse of nobler life : and when 
Their sumless Venture wreckt, and o'er them roll'd 
The wormwood waters of defeat and death, 
How in their pleading hands they held the Babe 
And Orphan Liberty, and bade her rear it 
For love of them, and for its own sweet sake. 



328 new year's eve in exile. 

And England slinks behind the nations now. 

Dim is her Beacon Despots paled to see 

Burn on them through the dark, like God's stern 

eye. 
Her battle-armour rusteth in her halls, 
And the old mighty arm that struck such blows 
For Right and Freedom, hangeth listless now. 
A dry-rot eats her life : her God is Mammon ! 
God Mars no longer leaps into her heart, 
As in a chariot driving down to battle. 
Her ancient fame and valour have become 
A tale that 's told us of forgotten times — 
Some fabled Kraken slumbering in its sea ! 
O ! for the voice of Milton once again, 
To make the lion-eyes lighten, and her heart 
As tremblingly alive as is a Star, 
Till in her naked strength majestical 
She walkt the sun-road of her glorious way. 
But England sleeps — the Ruin still rolls on. 
Earth crouches 'neath the shuddering wings of 

tear. 
Silent, and very calm, Freedom lies husht, 
And listens like a panting thing pursued, 
Heark'ning, heart-stifled, for the stealthiest tread 
Of One that hunts like Tarquin for Lucrece. 
'T is midnight now, and all the creeping things, 
And Birds of Darkness, ply their ghastly work 
Life gropes and stumbles among gaping graves, 
And Freedom's worshippers tall headless, while 
They bend to give their hearts up at her shrine ! 
But God 's in heaven, and yet the day shall dawn — ■ 
Break from the dark upon her golden wings, 
Her quick, ripe splendours rend and burn the 

gloom, 
Her living tides of glory burst, and foam, 
And hurry along the darksome streets of night. 
Cloud after cloud shall light a rainbow-roof, 
And build a Triumph- Arch for conquering Day 
To flash her beauty — trail her grandeurs through, 



NEW YEAR'S EVE IN EXILE. 329 

And take the world in her white arms of light. 
And Earth shall fling aside her mask of gloom, 
And lift her tearful face. O there will be 
Blood on it thick as dews ! The Children's blood 
Splasht in the Mother's face ! And there must be 
A red sunrise of retribution yet ! 
A mighty future is about to break 
The hush o' the world — the waiting gloom in 

heaven. 
The New Year cometh with a magic key, 
To ope some radiant chamber in Time's palace. 
Our Martyrs have not sown such seed in vain ! 
Beneath old Winter's snows a world of hope 
Lies ripening, and shall richly run to flowers, 
When earth shall kindle as a countenance 
Alive with love, and all the soul alight ! 
O come, thou Spring of God, and at thy voice 
The balmy blood shall beat in bud and leaf! 
And come, thou mellow rain, fall on it warm, 
And fondle it with kisses, drop rich tears ; 
And blow, thou sweet Spring-wind, and make it 

stir 
With secret rapture — budding tenderly, 
With all the glory of its folded bloom, 
And all its fragrance striving for the light. 
God, what a Spring and Harvest yet shall crown 
The dark, dern Deluge of Calamity ! 
Then come, thou grand New Year, in silence come 
Across the white snows, and the winter-land. 
Come, great Deliverer, call the peoples up, — 
Up from the Egypt of their slavery ! 
Ring out the death-knell of old Tyranny — 
'T is rotten ripe, and the heart of half the world 
Doth beat and burst to hurry it into hell. 
Stride o'er the Present, grand as some huge wave 
Should rush across Panama at a leap, 
And make two Seas one perfect world of waters. 
So link our great Past to a nobler Future, 
And set our new world singing on its way, 



330 THE DISTANT. 

With sunshine freighted, like a heart of bliss, 
Her Life's rich tide at Glory's high flood-mark. 
A little while, and we shall yet return 
Each to the Fatherland, like kings to conquest. 
Light breaks there ! in the East : it grows, and 

soon 
Shall Freedom's sun roll up the Heaven of Life. 
We may not see God's face, yet at our side 
He combats for us, with his vizor down. 
But no more words — like weeds they sap the soul 
Of richness that should fill the fruit of deeds. 
Henceforth let lips be dumb, as Bravery — 
Her parley done — had shut her gates, to ope not 
Save for the shouts that chariot Victory forth. 
We are all ready ! We have waited long ! 
God strike the hour, Ho ! let the trumpets ring ! " 
He ceased. One shout ran thro' the night, and 

struck 
Heaven's boss of stars, and like a ship went down 
In the lone sea of silence flowing round. 
In touching majesty the Stars lookt down, 
As tho' they yearn'd to them with answering pulse. 
And with invisible speed the world roll'd on. 



THE DISTANT. 

Stars deep in Midnight's blue abyss, 
Moving in heaven seem to kiss; 
But, darling, they are far apart, 
And close not beating heart to heart. 

And high in glory many a Star 
Shines, lighting other worlds afar, 
That holds within the dust and dearth, 
And darkness of a tireless hearth. 



PEGASUS IN HARNESS. — LIFE AND DEATH. 331 



PEGASUS IN HARNESS. 

They pity Pegasus because 
The Matrimonial Car lie draws 

Along the ruts of life : 
And hot and dusty is the road, 
And heavy is the living load 

Of leaning weans and wife. 

Poor Pegasus ! to turn the Mill, 
And grind, and pull the plough, until 

The work his withers wrings ! 
Why not V 't is he should do it best, 
And tread his measure easiest, 

Or where 's the use of wings ? 



EPITAPH FOR A PAINTER OF STILL- 
LIFE WHO WAS VERY FOND OF 
WHISKEY. 

He was a poor old doited body, 
Whom Satan took in his cussed toddy ; 
And here he lies as in his ill life, 
Making a picture still of still-life. 



LIFE AND DEATH. 

This butterfly of human breath 
Is followed fast and far by Death ; 
Some flower of life it settled on 
He clasps and crushes, but, 't is gone ! 



332 IMPATIENCE. — THE THREE SPIRITS. 



IMPATIENCE. 

To see what gems lie hidden where it grows, 
Would'st pluck the tree of life up by the root ? 

Wait till the unseen into flower blows ; 
Wait till the jewels hang in precious fruit. 



ON A VERY EARLY RISER. 

At the Last Day Avhile all the rest 
Are soundly sleeping underground, 

He will be up, clean shaved, and dressed, 
An hour before the Trumpet sound. 



THE THREE SPIRITS.. 

They were three Spirits fresh from God's own 

hand, 
And beautifuller ne'er took mortal mould, 
They had worn vestures of the undefiled, 
At spirit-spousals sang the nuptial song, 
Sat down with Gods and Heroes, held high con- 
verse 
With Milton and the mighty men of old, 
Divine old Socrates and deathless sages, 
The martyr'd Prophets and the warrior-saints, 
Who fought as we do now, and wrestled down 
Doubt's grim despairs, with pangs and quenchless 

faith. 
Glory tiara'd their immortal brows, 
Their lips were yet alive with seraph-fire, 



THE THREE SPIRITS. 333 

And locks bedropt rich dews of Paradise: 
They lookt a fore-taste and fore-feel of heaven. 
Christ-like they came to wear old Earth's life-har- 
ness, 
And yoke their fiery sun-steeds in her furrows. 
They came to battle, toil in tears, and pray, 
" Our Father," with the family of Men. 
'T was midnight in the husht and moonlit land, 
The heavens had on their silver robe of stars, 
And earth had on her silver robe of dew, 
When they first lookt like smiles of God, through 

eyes 
Where struggling heaven-light shone half-drown'd 

in tears, 
As rainy sunbeams strike a watery world. 
They grew sweet babes, where fond hearts set 

Love's throne, 
Heaven breathed about them, Angels sang to them, 
And joy was with them in their innocence. 
Their dawn of being broaden'd into day, 
And they had sprung to Manhood unawares. 
The lusty blood ran brave fire in their veins, 
Life's surging waves, with them, were at mad- 
plunge, 
And plough'd the passionate heart with tempest- 
beat, 
Then high thoughts burst like battle on their souls, 
Rousing and stern as in the noon of night 
The clarion's clangour smites a sleeping host ! 
And gorgeous Visions, glory-clad, swept by. 
And one went down to moil in Mammon's mine, 
For love of Gold ; thenceforth in his warpt heart, 
The Devil at death-grips set himself to God, 
And day by day worm'd out some trace divine ! 
Day unto day, Gold rotted out the soul. 
Still he toil'd on for Gold, sweet ! damning Gold ! 
The poor man's sweat, and tears, and blood, con- 

geal'd ; 
And he waxt wealthy ! all around him rose 



334 THE THREE SPIRITS. 

The hoarded heaps, like trophies after battle, 
Or tribute-treasure flung at Monarchs' feet. 
He turn'd to what he fed on, dust to dust ; 
The angel-plumes once moulted, grew no more ! 
The God dwarft in him, and his heart was hoary 
Before Time's silver mark had blaneht his brow. 
And one up-rear'd a fame which stood apart 
In the world's gaze, as 'mid old Tadmor's ruins 
Some column loometh in the eye of sunset. 
He crown'd with beacon-fire the reef which wreckt 
The mighty of all time. His marvellous name 
Moved men's tongues regally as Euroclydon, 
The storm-wind ! wakes the voices of old ocean. 
Leviathan of blood ! what crimson seas 
He spilt to revel in ; his path to empire 
Was wasted hearts and desolated lands. 
The other trode the world's face poor as Christ, 
Drank gall and wormwood; lived Gethsemane, 
In many a midnight solitude of heart ! 
Loved, hoped, and nurst large faith in human-kind, 
' Wept glorious tears that telescope the soul, 
And bring heaven nearer to the eyes of Faith! 
The hounds of hell bay'd at him, hoary Evil 
Breathed blighting influences on his heart, 
To turn it to a Upas-tree, and kill 
All nestling birds of love. With tears and travail 
He walkt the furnace, trode Earth's stony ways, 
And beat his rugged path with bleeding feet. 
Yet nought bore down his heart, or blencht his 

faith, 
And many a cloud-rift radiantly rent, 
Dropt blessing dear as parted lips of Love. 
From suffering he won strength to throw the world ; 
And when the fight ran sorest, his roused spirit 
Went forth a Conqueror ! wrapt in victory's robes. 
Amid the mirk and mire, he kept his heart 
A temple for the Beautiful ! all warm 
And bright, with blessed light of Love, that win- 
dow 



THE THREE SPIRITS. 335 

Of our dim life, which ever opes on God ! 

He trimmed Love's lamp in poor men's hearts and 
homes, 

And in the world's waste places his life blossom'd. 

So each built up a life. Time's scaffolding 

Fell from them, and they stood in God's eye bare ! 

Into the silent land, they pass'd, the Grave, 

Which Spring had made a beautiful gate of flowers ; 

On wings of wonder Avon the starry threshold 

Of God, where like to like is gauged and gar- 
nered. 

They stood where Paradise uprear'd its portals, 

And shook down splendours, palpitated bliss, 

Like a town full of triumph, — heart of love. 

O in that hour how shook the rich man's soul ! 

He stood there beggar'd, poorest of the poor ! 

Gold would not purchase heaven ; and if it might, 

Eternity ran 'twixt him and his riches ; 

And he went wailing with his world of woe. 

The other had gambled for a life, and lost ; 

Let slip his chance for an Eternity ! 

For fame, had barter'd an immortal birthright ; 

For name on Earth had sold Heaven's heritage ; 

And there the gates of glory on him closed. 

The poor man came, and his meek tearful eyes 

Grew luminous, as lit with sudden sun. 

Divinity leapt up full-statured, when 

His life burst its worn manacle of clay, 

And wore God's splendour round it as a raiment. 

Throbbing with glory like a midnight star, 

All heaven was husht to hear the Lord's " Well 
done." 

Then shining hosts and choiring orbs sang " Wel- 
come," 

And angels crown'd him in their Capitol. 

For in his heart he kept God's image bright. 

Love was his life-blood. Thro' the long work- 
day — 

The dark and terrible night-time — aye, to death, 



336 THE THREE SPIRITS. 

He nurst his love : and God himself is love. 

And there be none of all the poorest poor 

That walk the world, worn heart-bare, none so 

poor 
But they may bring a little human love 
To mend the world. And God himself is love. 



LINES INSCRIBED TO THE REV. F. D. 
MAURICE. 

God bless you, Brave One, in our dearth, 
Your life shall leave a trailing glory ; 

And round the poor Man's homely hearth 
We proudly tell your suffering's story. 

All Saviour-souls have saerificed, 

With nought but noble faith for guerdon ; 

And ere the world hath crown'd the Christ, 
The man to death hath borne the burden ! 

The Savage broke the glass that brought 
The heavens nearer, saith the legend ! 

Even so the Bigots welcome aught » 

That makes our vision starrier-region'd ! 

They lay their Corner-stones in dark 
Deep waters, who up-build in beauty, 

On Earth's old heart, their Triumph- Arc 
That crowns with glory lives of duty. 

And meekly still the Martyrs go 

To keep with Pain their solemn bridal ! 

And still they walk the fire who bow 
Not down to worship Custom's idol. 
22 



338 THE MEN OF FORTY-EIGHT. 

In fieriest forge of martyrdom, 

Their swords of soul must weld and brighten 
Tear-bathed, from fiercest furnace, come 

Their lives, heroic-temper'd — Titan ! 

And heart-strings sweetest music make 

When swept by Suffering's feeling fingers ! 

And thro' soul-shadows starriest break 
The glories on God's brave light-bringers. 

Take heart ! tho' sown in tears and blood, 
No seed that 's quick with love, hath perisht, 

Tho' dropt in barren byeways — God 

Some glorious flower of life hath cherisht. 

Take heart ; the rude dust dark To-day, 
Soars a new-lighted sphere To-morrow ! 

And wings of splendour burst the clay 
That clasps us in Death's fruitful furrow. 



THE MEN OF FORTY-EIGHT. 

They rose in Freedom's rare sunrise, 

Like Giants roused from wine ; 
And in their hearts and in their eyes 

The God leapt up divine ! 
Their souls flasht out naked as swords 

Unsheathed for fiery fate ! 
Strength went like battle with their words • 

The Men of Forty-eight, 

Hurrah ! 

For the Men of Forty-eight. 

Dark days have fall'n, yet in the strife 

They bate no hope sublime, 
And bravely works the exultant life, 

Their hearts pulse thro' the time : 



THE PATRIOT. 339 

As grass is greenest trodden down, 

So suffering makes men great, 
And this dark tide shall richly crown 

The work of Forty-eight, 

Hurrah ! 

For the Men of Forty-eight. 

Some in a bloody burial sleep, 

Like Greeks to glory gone, 
But in their steps avengers leap 

With their proof-armour on : 
And hearts beat high with dauntless trust 

To triumph soon or late, 
Tho' they be mould'ring down in dust — 

Brave Men of Forty-eight ! 

Hurrah ! 

For the Men of Forty-eight. 

O when the world wakes up to worst 

The Tyrants once again, 
And Freedom's summons-shout shall burst. 

Rare music ! on the brain, — 
All Truehearts still, in many a land, 

Ye '11 find them all elate — 
Brave remnant of that Spartan-band, 

The Men of Forty-eight. 

Hurrah ! 

For the Men of Forty-eight. 



THE PATRIOT. 

Ay, Tyrants, build your Babels ! forge your fetters ! 

link your chains ! 
As brims your guilt-cup fuller, ours of grief ebbs to 

the drains ; 



340 THE PATRIOT. 

Still, as on Christ's brow, crowns of thorn for Free- 
dom's Martyrs twine ; 
Still batten on live hearts, and madden, o'er the 

hot blood-wine. 
Murder men sleeping, or awake, — torture them 

dumb with pain, 
And tear, with hands all bloody red, the vesture of 

the slain ! 
Your feet are on us, Tyrants — strike ! and hush 

Earth's wail of sorrow : 
Your sword of power, so red to-day, shall kiss the 

dust to-morrow. 
O ! but 't will be a merry day, the world shall set 

apart, 
When Strife's last brand is broken in the last 

erown'd Tyrant's heart ! 
And it shall come, — despite of Rifle, Rope, and 

Rack, and Scaffold, 
Once more Ave lift the earnest brow, and battle on 

unbaffled. 

Our hopes ran mountains high, we sang at heart, 

wept tears of gladness, 
When France, the bravely beautiful, dasht down 

her sceptred madness ; 
And Hungary her one-hearted race of mighty he- 
roes hurl'd 
In the death-gap of nations, as a bulwark for the 

world. 
O Hungary ! gallant Hungary ! grand and glorious 

thou wert, 
The World's soul feeding, like a river, gushing from 

God's heart ; 
And Rome, — who, while her Heroes bled, felt her 

old breast heave higher, — 
How her eyes redden'd with the flash of all their 

Roman fire ! 
Mothers of children, who shall live the Gods of 

future story ! 



THE PATRIOT. 341 

Your blood shall blossom from the dust, and crown 
the world with glory. 

Ye '11 tread them down yet, curse and crown ! up- 
lift the trodden Slave, 

And Freedom shall be sovran in the courts of fool 
and knave. 

Wail for the hopes that have gone down ! the young 
life vainly spilt ! 

Th' Eternal Murder still sits crown'd, and throned 
in damning guilt : 

Still in God's golden sun the Tyrants' bloody ban- 
ners burn, 

And Priests, — Hell's midnight Thugs! — to their 
soul-strangling work return ! 

See how the oppressors of the poor with serpents 
hunt our blood ; 

Hear, from the dark, the groan and curse go mad- 
dening up to God. 

They kill and trample us poor worms, till earth is 
dead men's dust ; 

Death's red tooth daily drains our hearts, but end, 
ay, end it must. 

The herald of our coming Christ leaps in the womb 
of Time ; 

The poor's grand army treads the Age's march with 
step sublime. 

Ours is the mighty future ! and what marvel, brother 
men, 

If the devoured of ages should turn devourers then ? 

! brothers of the bounding heart, I look thro' 

tears and smile, 
The World is rife with sound of fetters snapping 
'neath the file ; 

1 lay my hand on England's heart, and in each life- 

throb mark, 
The pealing thought of freedom ring its Tocsin in 
the dark. 



342 THE PATRIOT. 

I see the Toiler hath become a glorious Christ-like 

preacher, 
And, as he wins a crust, stands proudly forth, the 

great world-teacher ; 
He still toils on, but, Tyrants, 't is a mighty thing 

when slaves, 
Who delve their lives into their work, know that 

they delve your graves. 
Anarchs ! your doom comes swiftly ! brave and eagle 

spirits climb, 
To ring Oppression's death-knell from the old watch- 
towers of time ; 
A spirit of Cromwellian might is stirring at this hour, 
And thought is burning in men's eyes with more 

than speechful power. 

Old England, cease the mummer's part ! wake, 
Starveling, Serf, and Slave ! 

Rouse in the majesty of wrong, great kindred of the 
brave ! 

Speak, and the world shall answer, with her voices 
myriad-fold, 

And men, like Gods, shall grapple with the giant- 
wrongs of old. 

Now, Mothers of the people, give your babes heroic 
milk ; 

Sires, soul your sons for daring deeds, no more soft 
words of silk ; 

Great spirits of the mighty dead take shape, and 
walk our mind, 

Their glory smites our upward look, we seem no 
longer blind ; 

They tell us how they broke their bonds, and whis- 
per, " So may ye : " 

One sharp, stern struggle, and the slaves of centu- 
ries are free ! 

The people's heart, with pulse like cannon, panteth 
for the fray, 

And, brothers, gallant brothers, we '11 be with you 
in that day. 



OUR FATHERS ARE PRAYING, ETC 343 



OUR FATHERS ARE PRAYING FOR 
PAUPER-PAY. 

Smitten stones will talk with fiery tongues, 

And the worm, when trodden, will turn ; 
But, Cowards, ye cringe to the cruellest wrongs, 

And answer with never a spurn. 
Then torture, O Tyrants, the spiritless drove, 

Old England's Helots will bear : 
There 's no hell in their hatred, no God in their 
love, 

Nor shame in their dearth's despair. 
For our Fathers are praying tor Pauper-pay, 

Our Mothers with Death's kiss are white ; 
Our Sons are the rich man's Serfs by day, 

And our Daughters his Slaves by night. 

The Tearless are drunk with our tears : have they 
driven 

The God of the poor man mad ? 
For we weary of waiting the help of Heaven, 

And the battle goes still with the bad. 
O but death for death, and life for life, 

It were better to take and give, 
With hand to throat, and knife to knife, 

Than die out as thousands live ! 
For our Fathers are praying for Pauper-pay, 

Our Mothers with Death's kiss are white ; 
Our Sons are the rich man's Serfs by day, 

And our Daughters his Slaves by night. 

Fearless and few were the Heroes of old, 

Who play'd the peerless part : 
We are fifty-fold, but the gangrene Gold 

Hath eaten out Hampden's heart. 
With their faces to danger, like freemen they fought, 

With their daring, all heart and hand : 



344 THEY ARE BUT GIANTS, ETC. 

And the thunder-deed follow'd the lightning- 
thought, 

When they stood for their own good land. 
Our Fathers are praying for Pauper-pay, 

Our Mothers with Death's kiss are white ; 
Our Sons are the rich man's Serfs by day, 

And our Daughters his Slaves by night. 

When the heart of one half the world doth beat 

Akin to the brave and the true, 
And the tramp of Democracy's earthquake feet 

Goes thrilling the wide world through, — 
We should not be living in darkness and dust, 

And dying like slaves in the night ; 
But, big with the might of the inward " must" 

We should battle for Freedom and Right ! 
For our Fathers are praying for Pauper-pay, 

Our Mothers with Death's kiss are white ; 
Our Sons are the rich man's Serfs by day, 

And our Daughters his Slaves by night. 



THEY ARE BUT GIANTS WHILE WE 
KNEEL. 

Good People ! put no faith in Kings, nor in your 
Princes trust, 

Who break your hearts for bread, and grind your 
faces in the dust ! 

The Palace Paupers look from lattice high, and 
mock your prayer : 

The Champions of the Christ are dumb, or golden 
bit they wear ! 

O but to see ye bend no more to earth's crime- 
cursed things ! 

Ye are God's Oracles : stand forth ! be Nature's 
Priests and Kings ! 



THEY ARE BUT GIANTS, ETC. 345 

Ye fight and bleed, while Fortune's darlings slink 

in splendid lair ; 
With lives that crawl, like worms through buried 

Beauty's golden hair ! — 
A tale of lives wrung out in tears their Grandeurs 

garb reveals, 
And the last sobs of breaking hearts sound in their 

Chariot-wheels ! 
O league ye — crush the things that kill all lave 

and liberty ! 
They are but Giants while we kneel: one leap, 

AND UP go We. 

Trust not the Priests, whose tears are lies, and 
hearts are hard and cold ; 

Who lead ye to sweet pastures, where they fleece 
the foolish fold ! 

The Church and State are linkt and sworn to deso- 
late the land. 

Good people, 'twixt these Foxes' tails, We'll fling 
a fiery brand ! 

Up, if ye will be free, to golden calves no longer 
bow : 

The Nations yearn for liberty — the world is earnest 
now ! 

Your bent-knee is half-way to hell ! — Up, Serviles, 
from the dust ! 

The Harvest of the free red-ripens for the sickle- 
thrust. 

They 're quaking now, and shaking now, who 've 
wrought the hurtling sorrow, 

To-day the desolators, but the desolate To-mor- 
row ! 

Loud o'er their murder's menace wakes the watch- 
word of the Free : 

They are but Giants while we kneel: one leap, 
and up go We ! 

Some bravest patriot-hearts have gone, to break 
beyond the Sea, 



346 THEY ARE BUT GIANTS, ETC. 

And many in the dungeon have died for you and 

me ! 
And still we glut the Merciless — give all Life's 

glory up, 
That stars of flame, and winking eyes, may crown 

their revel-cup ! 
Back, tramplers on the Many ! Death and Danger 

ambusht lie ; 
Beware ye, or the blood may run ! the patient 

people cry : 
Ah ! shut not out the light of hope, or we may 

blindly dash. 
Like Samson in his strong death-grope, and whelm 

ye in the crash. 
Think how they spurred the People mad, that old 

Regime of France, 
Whose heads, like poppies, from Death's Scythe fell 

in a bloody dance. 
Ye plead in vain, ye bleed in vain, ah ! Blind ! 

when will ye see 
They are but Giants while we kneel? One leap, 

AND UP go We. 

The merry flowers are springing from our last-year 

Martyrs' mould, 
As their dreams had taken blossom telling what 

they would have told ; 
Of all our rainbowed Future : and what this earth 

shall be 
When we have bartered blows and bonds for life 

and liberty. 
Ah ! what a face of glory shall the weary world 

put on, 
When Love is crowned, and shall king the heart 

its royal throne ! 
O we shall see our darlings smile, — who meet us 

tearful now, — 
Ere the Eternal morn breaks gray, on the Beloved's 

brow: 



EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHT. 347 

And Love shall give the kiss of Death no more to 
those we love, 

And pride, not shame, shall flush the face of our 
heart-nestling- Dove. 

Rouse, Titans, scale th' Olympus where the hinder- 
ing Tyrants be : 

They are but Giants while we kneel : one leap, 
and up go We. 



EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FORTY- 
EIGHT. 

People of England, rouse ye from your dreaming! 

Sinew your souls for Freedom's glorious leap : 
Look to the Future, where our day-spring 's gleam- 
ing : 
Lo ! a pulse stirs that never more shall sleep 
In the world's heart. Men's eyes flash wide with 
wonder ! 
The Robbers tremble in their mightiest tower, 
Strange words roll o'er their souls with wheels of 
thunder, 
The leaves from Royalty's tree fall hour by 

hour, — 
Earthquakes leap in our Temples, crumbling 
Throne and Power. 

Yampyres have drain'd the human heart's best 
blood, 
Kings robb'd, and Priests have curst us in God's 
name : 
Out in the midnight of the Past we 've stood — 

While fiends of darkness plied their hellish game. 
We have been worshipping a gilded crown, 

Which drew heaven's lightning-laughter on our 
head; 



318 EIGHTEKN HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHT. 

Chains fell on us as we were bowing down ; 

We deem'd our Gods divine, but lo ! instead — 
They are but painted clay, — with morn the 
charm has fled ! 

And this is merry England, — cradling-place 

Of souls self-deified and glory-crown'd ! 
Where smiles made splendour in the Peasant's 
face, 
And Justice reign'd — Her awful eyes close- 
bound ! 
Where Toil with open brow went on light-hearted, 

And twain in love Law never thrust apart ? 
How is the glory of our life departed 

From us, who sit and nurse our bleeding smart ; 
And slink, afraid to break the laws that break 
the heart ! 

Husht be the Herald on the walls of fame, 

Trumping this People as their Country's pride; 

Weep rather, with your souls on fire wkh shame : 
See ye not how the palaced knaves deride 

Us flatter'd fools? how priestcraft, strong and 
stealth)', 
Stabs at our freedom through its veil of night, 

And grinds the poor to flush its coffers wealthy '? 
Hear how the land groans in the grip of Might, 
Then quaff your cup of Wrongs, and laud a 
Briton's " Right." 

There 's not a spot in all this flowery land, 

Where Tyranny's cursed brand-mark has not 
been : 
O ! were it not for its all-blasting hand, 

Dear Christ, what a sweet heaven this might 
have been ! 
Has it not hunted forth our spirits brave, — 
Kill'd the red rose of health that crown'd our 
daughters, 



EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHT. 349 

Wedded our living hopes unto the grave, — 

Filled happy homes with strife, the world with 

slaughters, 
And turn'd our thoughts to blood — to gall, the 
heart's sweet waters ? 

Where is the spirit of our ancient Sires, 

Who, bleeding, wrung their Rights from tyran- 
nies olden ? 
God-spirits have been here, for Freedom fires 

From out their ashes, to earth's heart enfolden ; 
The mighty dead lie slumbering around, — 

Whose names thrill thro' us as Gods were in the 
air ; 
Life leaps from where their dust makes holy 
ground : 
Their deeds spring forth in glory, — live ail- 
where, — 
But we are traitors to the trust they bade us bear. 

Go forth, when Night is husht, and heaven is 
clothed 
With stars that in God's smiling presence roll, 
Feel the stirr'd spirit leap to them betrothed, 
As Angel-wings were fanning in the soul ; 
Feel the hot tears flood in the eyes upturning, 

The tide of goodness heave its brightest waves, — 
Then suddenly crush the grand and God-ward 
yearning 
With the mad thought that ye are bounden 

slaves ! 
O ! how long will ye make your hearts its living 
graves V 

Immortal Liberty ! we see thee stand 

Like Morn just stept from heaven upon a moun- 
tain 
With beautiful feet, and blessing-laden hand, 

And heart whence welleth Love's most living 
fountain ! 



350 EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHT. 

O ! when wilt thou string on the People's lyre 
Joy's broken chord ? and on the People's brow 

Set Empire's crown ? light up thy beacon-fire 
Within their hearts, with an undying glow; 
Nor give us blood for milk, as men are drunk 
with now ? 

Old Poets tell us of a golden age, 

When earth was guiltless, — Gods the guests of 
men, 
Ere sin had dimm'd the heart's illumined page, — 

And Sinai-voices say 't will come again. 
O ! happy age ! when Love shall rule the heart, 

And time to live shall be the poor man's dower, 
When Martyrs bleed no more, nor Exiles smart, — 

Mind is the only diadem of power. — 

People, it ripens now ! awake ! and strike the 
hour. 

Hearts, high and mighty, gather in our cause ; 
Bless, bless, O God, and crown their earnest 
labour, 
Who dauntless fight to win us equal laws, 

With mental armour, and with spirit-sabre ! 
Bless, bless, O God ! the proud intelligence, 

That like a sun dawns on the People's fore- 
head, — 
Humanity springs from them like incense, 

The Future bursts upon them, boundless — star- 

ried — 
They weep repentant tears, that they so long 
have tarried. 



THEY WHO FELL FOR HUNGARY, ETC. 351 



THEY WHO FELL FOR HUNGARY AND 
ROME. 

1850. 

They are gone ! 
When on earthquake-edge they slumbered, 

Who have man accurst; 
And Hope's blossoms, many-numbered, 

Into flower burst ; 
When our hearts, like throbbing drums, 
Beat for Freedom ; sang, She comes ! 
God ! they stumbled among tombs. 

They are gone ! 
Freedom's strong ones, young and hoary, 

Beautiful in faith ! 
And her first dawn-blush of glory 

Gilds their camp of death ! 
There they lie in shrouds of blood ; 
Murder'd, where for Right they stood — 
Murder'd, Christ-like, doing good. 

They are gone ! 
Yet 't is good to die up-giving 

Valour's vengeful breath, 
To make Heroes of the living, — 

Thus divine is death. 
One by one, dear hearts ! they 've left us, 
Yet Hope hath not all bereft us : 
Still we man the breach they cleft us. 

They are here ! 
Here, where life ran ruddy rain, 

When power from God seem'd wrencht : 
Here, where tears fall — molten brain! 

And hands are agony-clencht ! 



852 A CRY OF THE PEOPLES. 

Look, Love lifts the veil ; ah ! now 

There 's a glory, where the glow 

Of their fire-crown seam'd each brow. 

They are here ! 
In the Etna of each heart, 

Where Vengeance makes hell-mirth, 
In the silent tears that start 

O'er their glorious worth ! 
Tears ? ay, teal's of fire, proud Weepers ! 
For these soul-sepultured sleepers : 
Fire ! to smite Death's blood-seed reapers. 

They are here ! 
With us in the march of time, 

Boating at our side ! 
Let us live their lives sublime, 

Die as they have died ! 
Wait : these Martyrs yet shall come, 
Myriad-fold, from their heart-tomb ! 
In the Tyrants' day of doom. 



A CRY OF THE PEOPLES. 

Like a strong man in torture, the weary world 
turneth, 
To clutch Freedom's robe round her slavery's 
stark n ess : 
With shame and with shudder, poor Mother! she 
yearneth 
O'er wrongs that are done in her dearth and her 
darkness. 
O gather thy strength up, and crush the* Abhorred, 
Who murder thy poor heart, and drain thy life* 
springs, — 



A CRY OF THE PEOPLES. 353 

And are crowned to hide the Cain-brand on their 
forehead : 
O let them be last of the Queens and the Kings ! 

By the lovers and friends we have tenderly cher- 
isht, 
Who made the Cause soar up like flame at theii 
breath, 
"Who struggled like Gods met in fight, and have 
perisht 
In poverty's battle with grim daily death : 
O, by all dear ones that bitterly plead for us — 
Life-flowers tied up in the heart's breaking 
strings — 
Sisters that weep for us — mothers that bleed for 
us — 
Let these be last of the Queens and the Kings ! 

Sun and Rain kindle greenly the graves of our 
Martyrs, 
Ye might not tell where the brave blood ran like 
rain ! 
But there it burns ever! and heaven's weeping 
waters 
And branding suns never shall whiten the 
stain ! 
Remember the hurtling the Tyrants have wrought 
us, 
And smite till each helm bravely flashes and 
rings ! 
Life for life, blood for blood, is the lesson they 've 
taught us, 
And be these the last of the Queens and the 
Kings ! 

Ho ! weary Night watch, is there light on the sum- 
mit? 
Yearner up through the Night, say, is there 
hope? 

23 



354 HOPE ON, HOPE EVER. 

For deeper in darkness than fathom of plummet, 
Our Bark thro' the tempest doth stagger and 
grope ! 
" To God's unforgiven, to caitiff and craven — 
To Crown and to Sceptre, a cleaving curse 
clings : 
Ye must fling them from deck, would ye steer into 
haven, 
For Death tracks the last of the Queens and the 
Kings ! " 



HOPE ON, HOPE EVER. 

Hope on, hope ever ! though to-day be dark, 

The sweet sunburst may smile on thee to-mor- 
row : 
Tho' thou art lonely, there 's an eye will mark 
Thy loneliness, and guerdon all thy sorrow ! 
Tho' thou must toil 'mong cold and sordid men, 
With none to echo back thy thought, or love 
thee, 
Cheer up, poor heart ! thou dost not beat in vain, 
For God is over all, and heaven above thee — 
Hope on, hope ever. 

The iron may enter in and pierce thy soul, 

But cannot kill the love within thee burning : 
The tears of misery, thy bitter dole, 

Can never quench thy true heart's seraph yearn 
ing 
For better things : nor crush thy ardour's trust, 
That Error from the mind shall be uprooted, 
That Truths shall dawn as flowers spring from the 
dust, 
And Love be cherisht where Hate was embruted 
Hope on, hope ever. 



the people's advent. 353 

[ know 'tis hard to bear the sneer and taunt, — 

With the heart's honest pride at midnight wrestle, 
To feel the killing canker-worm of Want, 

While rich rogues in their stolen luxury nestle ; 
For I have felt it. Yet from Earth's cold Real 

My soul looks out on coming things, and cheerful 
The warm Sunrise floods all the land Ideal, 

And still it whispers to the worn and tearful, 
Hope on, hope ever. 

Hope on, hope ever ! after darkest night, 

Comes, full of loving life, the laughing Morning; 
Hope on, hope ever ! Spring-tide, flusht with light, 

Aye crowns old Winter with her rich adorning. 
Hope on, hope ever ! yet the time shall come, 

When man to man shall be a friend and brother ; 
And this old world shall be a happy home, 

And all Earth's family love one another ! 
Hope on, hope ever. 



THE PEOPLE'S ADVENT. 

'T is coming up the steep of Time, 

And this old world is growing brighter ! 
We may not see its dawn sublime, 

Yet high hopes make the heart throb lighter. 
We may be sleeping in the ground, 

When it awakes the world in wonder ; 
But we have felt it gathering round, 

And heard its voice of living thunder. 
'T is coming ! yes, 't is "coming ! 

'T is coming now, the glorious time, 
Foretold by Seers, and sung in story ; 

For which, when thinking was a crime, 
Souls leapt to heaven from scaffolds gory ! 



356 THE people's advent. 

They pass'd, nor see the work they wrought, 
Now the crown 'd hopes of centuries blossom! 

But the live lightning of their thought 

And daring deeds, doth pulse Earth's bosom. 
'T is coming ! yes, 't is coming ! 

Creeds, Empires, Systems, rot with age. 

But the great People 's ever youthful ! 
And it shall write the Future's page, 

To our humanity more truthful ! 
The gnarliest heart hath tender chords, 

To waken at the name of " Brother; " 
And time comes when brain-scorpion words 

We shall not speak to sting each other. 
'T is coming ! yes, 't is coming ! 

Out of the light, ye Priests, nor fling 

Your dark, cold shadows on us longer ! 
Aside ! thou world-wide curse, call'd King ! 

The People's step is quicker, stronger. 
There 's a Divinity within 

That makes men great, whene'er they will it. 
God works with all who dare to win, 

And the time cometh to reveal it. 

'T is coming ! yes, 't is coming ! 

Freedom ! the tyrants kill thy braves, 

Yet in our memories live the sleepers ; 
And, tlio' doom'd millions feed the graves, 

Dug by Death's fierce, red-handed reapers, 
The world shall not for ever bow 

To things which mock God's OAvn endeavour; 
'Tis nearer than they wot of now, 

When flowers shall wreathe the sword for ever 
'Tis coming ! yes, 't is coming ! 

Fraternity ! Love's other name! 

Dear, heaven-connecting link of Being ! 
Then shall we grasp thy golden dream, 

As souls, full-statured, grow far-seeing. 



OUR LAND. 357 

Thou shalt unfold our better part, 

And in our Life-cup yield more honey ; 

Light up with joy the poor man's heart, 

And Love's own world with smiles more sunny 
'T is coming ! yes, 't is coming ! 

Ay, it must come ! The Tyrant's throne 

Is crumbling, with our hot tears rusted : 
The Sword earth's mighty have leant on 

Is canker'd, with our heart's blood crusted. 
Room ! for the men of Mind make way ! 

Ye robber Rulers, pause no longer ; 
Ye cannot stay the opening day : 

The world rolls on, the light grows stronger, — 
The People's Advent 's coming ! 



OUR LAND. 

'T is the Land that our stalwart fore-sires trode, 

Where'*the brave and heroic-soul'd 
Implanted our freedom with their best blood, 

In the martyr-days of old. 
The huts of the lowly gave Liberty birth, 

Their hearts were her cradle glorious, 
And wherever her foot-prints letter'd the earth, 

Great spirits up-sprang victorious, 
In our rare old Land, our dear old Land, 

With its memories bright and brave, 
And sing hey for the hour its sons shall band 

To free it of Tyrant and Slave. 

John Hampden's sword and Shakespeare's thought 

Beking us, all crowns above ! 
And Freedom's dear faith a fresh splendour caught 

From our grand old Milton's love ! 



358 OUR LAND. 

And we should be marching on gallantly, 

On the track of the famous in story, 
For the Right with our Might striking valiantly, 

And striding from glory to glory — 
For our rare old Land, our dear old Land, 

With its memories bright and brave, 
And sing hey for the hour its sons shall band 

To free it of Tyrant and Slave. 

On Naseby-field of the fight sublime, 

Our old red Rose doth blow ! 
Would to God that the soul of that earlier time 

Might marshal us conquering now ! 
On into the Future's fair clime the world sweeps, 

And the time trumpets true men to freedom : 
At the heart of our helots the mounting God leaps, 

But O for the Moses to lead 'em ! 
For our rare old Land, our dear old Land, 

With its memories bright and brave ! 
And sing hey for the hour its sons shall band 

To free it of Tyrant and Slave. 

What do we lack, that the ruffian Wrong 

Should starve us 'mid heaps of gold V 
We have brains as broad, we have arms as strong, 

We have hearts as big and as bold ! 
Will a thousand years more of meek suffering 
school 

Our lives to a sterner bravery ? 
No ! down and down with their robber rule, 

And up from the land of slavery ! 
For our rare old Land, our dear old Land, 

With its memories bright and brave ! 
And sing hey for the hour its sons shall band 

To free it of Tyrant and Slave. 



THE CRY OF THE UNEMPLOYED. 359 



THE CRY OF THE UNEMPLOYED. 

'Tis hard, 'tis hard to wander on through this 

bright world of ours, 
Beneath a sky of smiling blue, on velvet paths of 

flowers, 
With music in the woods, as there were nought but 

joyaunce known, 
Or Angels walkt earth's solitudes, and yet with 

want to groan, 
To see no beauty in the stars, nor in God's radiant 

smile, 
To wail and wander misery-curst ! willing, but can- 
not toil. 
There 's burning sickness at my heart, I sink down 

famished ! 
God of the wretched, hear my prayer: I would that 

I were dead ! 

Heaven droppeth down with manna still in many a 

golden show'r, 
And feeds the leaves with fragrant breath, with 

silver dew the flow'r. 
There 's honey'd fruit for bee and bird, with bloom 

laughs out the tree, 
And food for all God's happy things ; but none 

gives food to me. 
Earth, deck'd with Plenty's garland-crown, smiles 

on my aching eye, 
The purse-proud, — swathed in luxury, — disdain- 
ful pass me by : 
I've eager hands, and earnest heart — but may not 

work for bread ! 
God of the wretched, hear my prayer : I would that 

I were dead ! 



360 THE CRY OF THE UNEMPLOYED. 

Gold, art thou not a blessed thing, a charm above 
all other, 

To shut up hearts to Nature's cry, when brother 
pleads with brother '? 

Hast thou a music sweeter than the voice of loving- 
kindness ? 

No ! curse thee, thou 'rt a mist 'twixt God and men 
in outer blindness. 

41 Father, come back ! " my children cry ; their voices, 
once so sweet, 

Now quiver lance-like in my bleeding heart ! I can- 
not meet 

The looks that make the brain go mad, for dear 
ones asking bread — 

God of the wretched, hear my prayer : I would that 
I were dead ! 

Lord! what right have the poor to wed ? Love's 

for the gilded great : 
Are they not form'd of nobler clay, who dine off 

golden plate V 
'T is the worst curse of Poverty to have a feeling 

heart : 
Why can I not, with iron-grasp, tear out the tender 

part ? 
I cannot slave in yon Bastille ! ah no, 't were bit- 
terer pain, 
To wear the Pauper's iron within, than drag the 

Convict's chain. 
I 'd work but cannot, starve I may, but will not beg 

for bread : 
God of the wretched, hear my prayer : I would that 

I were dead ! 



SONG OF THE RED REPUBLICAN. 36l 



SONG OF THE RED REPUBLICAN. 

Fling out the red Banner ! its fiery front under, 
Come, gather ye, gather ye, Champions of 
Right ! 
And roll round the world, with the voice of God's 
thunder, 
The Wrongs we 've to reckon, oppressions to 
smite. ■ 

They deem that we strike no more like the old 
Hero-band, 
Victory's own battle-hearted and brave : 
Blood of Christ! brothers mine, it were sweet but 
to see ye stand, 
Triumph or Tomb welcome, Glory or Grave ! 

Fling out the red Banner in mountain and 
valley ! 
Let Earth feel the tread of the free once 
again ; 
Now soldiers of Freedom, for love of God, rally, 
Old Earth yearns to know that her children are 
Men. 
We are nerved by a thousand wrongs, burning and 
bleeding, 
Bold Thoughts leap to birth, but the bold Deeds 
must come ; 
And wherever Humanity's yearning and plead- 
ing, 
One battle for Liberty strike we heart-home. 

Fling out the red Banner ! achievements immortal 
Have yet to be won by the hands labour- 
brown ; 
And few, few may enter the proud promise- 
portal, 
Yet wear it in thought like a glorious Crown ! 



362 SONG OF THE RED REPUBLICAN. 

And O joy of the onset ! sound trumpet, array us ; 
True hearts would leap up were all hell in out 
path ; 
Up, up from the Slave-land ; who stirreth to stay 
us, 
Shall fall, as of old, in the Red Sea of wrath. 

Fling out the red Banner, O Sons of the morning! 

Young spirits abiding to burst into wings, — 
We stand shadow-crown'd, but sublime is the 
warning, 
All heaven's grimly husht, and the Bird of 
Storm sings ! 
"All's well," saith the Sentry on Tyranny's 
tower, 
While Hope by his watch-fire is grey and tear- 
blind ; 
Ay, all 's well ! Freedom's Altar burns, hour by 
hour, 
Live brands for the fire-damp with which ye are 
mined. 

Fling out the red Banner ! the patriots .perish, 
But where their bones whiten the seed striketh 
root : 
Their blood hath run red the great harvest to 
cherish : 
Then gather ye, Reapers, and garner the fruit. 
Victory ! victory ! Tyrants are quaking ! 

The Titan of Toil from the bloody thrall starts ; 
The slaves are awaking, the dawn-light is break- 
ing. 
The foot-fall of Freedom beats quick at our 
hearts ! 



PRESS ON. 



PRESS ON. 



Press on, press on, ye Rulers, in the roused 

world's forward track : 
It moves too sure for ye to put the clock of Free- 
dom back ! 
We 're gathering up from near and far, with souls 

in fiery glow, 
And Right doth bare its arm of might to bring the 

spoilers low. 
Kings, Priests, ye 're far too costly, and we weary 

of your rule ; 
We crown no more " Divinity," where Nature 

writeth " Fool ! " 
Ye must not bar our glorious path as in the days 

agone ; 
We know that God made Men, not Princes, Kings, 

or Priests. — Press on ! 

Press on, press on, ah ! " Nobles ! " ye have play'd 

a daring game ; 
But your star of strength is falling, fades the pres- 
tige of your name : 
Too long have ye been fed and nurst on human 

blood and tears ; 
The naked truth is known, and Labour leaps to 

life, and swears 
His pride of strength to bloated Ease he will no 

longer give : 
For all who live should labour; " Lords," then all 

who work might live ! 
The combat comes ! make much of what ye 've 

wrung from Fatherland ! 
Press on, press on ! To-day we plead, To-morrow 

we '11 command. 



364 ANATHEMA MARANATHA. 

Press on ! a million pauper-foreheads bend in 

Misery's dust ; 
God's champions of the golden Truth still eat the 

mouldy crust : 
This damning curse of Tyrants must not kill the 

nation's heart ; 
The spirit in a million Slaves doth pant, on fire to 

start 
And strive to mend the world, and walk in Free- 
dom's march sublime ; 
While myriads sink heart broken, and the land o'er- 

swarms with crime. 
" O God ! " they cry, " we die, we die, and see no 

earnest won ! " 
Brothers, join hand and heart, and in the work 

press on, press on ! 



ANATHEMA MARANATHA. 

Deeper and deeper the Tyrant's lash, flayeth, 
Swifter and swifter fierce Misery slayeth ; 
Tighter and tighter the grip of Toil groweth, 
Nearer and nearer the dark Ruin floweth. 
And still ye bear on, and ye faint heart and breath, 
Till ye creep, scourged hounds, to your kennel of 

death : 
O down to the dust with ye, cowards and slaves, 
Plague-stricken cumber-grounds, slink to your 

graves ! 

Love is the crown of all life, but ye wear it not ; 
Freedom, Humanity's palm, and ye bear it not; 
Beauty spreads banquet for all, but ye share it 

not; 
Grimmer the blinding veil glooms, and ye tear it 

not. 



ANATHEMA MARANATHA. 365 

Weaving your life-flowers in Wrong's robe ol 

glory? 

Ye stint in your starkness with hearts smitten 

hoary : 
O down to the dust with ye, cowards and slaves, 
Plague-stricken cumber-grounds, slink to your 

graves ! 

They have broken our hearts for their hunger, and 

trod 
The wine-press for Death, with the grapes of our 

God; 
And ye lick their feet, red with your blood, like 

dumb cattle : 
Ah ! better and braver to meet them in battle ! 
The bow that Tell drew hath lost none of its 

spring, 
But ye nerve not with daring the arrow and string : 
Then down to the dust with ye, cowards and slaves, 
Plague-stricken cumber-grounds, slink to your 

graves ! 

There 's a curse on the Mammonites fiery and fell, 

Whose hearts gold hath turned into hearthstones 
of hell ; 

And there 's wringing of hands with the Knave 
and the Tyrant, 

For God's graven autograph 's on their death- 
warrant. 

While lordlier manhood 'neath Freedom's heart 
yearneth, 

Up now ! while before ye the fire-pillar burnetii ! 

Or down to the dust with ye, cowards and slaves, 

Down, down for ever, and slink to your graves ! 



866 THE LORDS OF LAND AND MONEY. 



THE LORDS OF LAND AND MONEY 

Sons of Old England, from the sod, 

Up-lift the noble brow ! 
Gold apes a mightier power than God, 

And wealth is worshipt now ! 
In all these toil-ennobled lands 

Ye have no heritage ; 
They snatch the fruit of youthful hands, 

The staff from weary age. 
O tell them in their Palaces, 

These Lords of Land and Money ! 
They shall not kill the poor like bees, 

To rob them of Life's honey. 

Thro' long dark years of blood and tears, 

We 've toil'd like branded slaves, 
Till Wrong's red hand hath made a land 

Of paupers, prisons, graves ! 
But our long-sufferance endeth now ; 

Within the souls of men 
The fruitful buds of promise blow, 

And Freedom lives again ! 
O tell them in their Palaces, 

These Lords of Land and Money ! 
They shall not kill the poor like bees, 

To rob them of Life's honey. 

Too long have Labour's nobles knelt 

Before exalted " Rank; " 
Within our souls the iron is felt — 

We hear our fetters clank ! 
A glorious voice goes throbbing forth 

From millions stirring now, 
Who yet before these Gods of earth 

Shall stand with unblencht brow. 



THE DESERTER FROM THE CAUSE. 367 

O tell them in their Palaces, 

These Lords of Land and Money ! 

They shall not kill the poor like bees, 
To rob them of Life's honey. 



THE DESERTER FROM THE CAUSE. 

He is gone : better so. We should know who 
stand under 
Our Banner : let none but the trusty remain ! 
For there 's stern work at hand, and the time comes 
shall sunder 
The shell from the pearl, and the chaff from the 
grain ! 
And the heart that thro' danger and death will be 
dutiful — 
Soul that with Cranmer in fire would shake 
hands, 
With a Life, like a palace-home built for the 
Beautiful — 
Freedom of all her Beloved demands ! 

He is gone from us ! Yet shall we march on vic- 
torious, 
Hearts burning like Beacons — eyes fixt on the 
Goal ! 
A nd if we fall fighting, we fall like the Glorious ; 
With face to the Stars, and all heaven in the 
soul ! 
And aye for the brave stir of battle we '11 barter 
The sword of life sheatht in the peace of the 
grave : 
And better the fieriest fate of the Martyr, 

Than live like the Coward, and die like the 
Slave ! 



368 all's right with the world. 



ALL'S RIGHT WITH THE WORLD. 

Sweet Phosphor makes the brow of heaven smile, 
Dawn's golden springs surge into floods of day, 
Lush-leavy woods break into singing, Earth 
From dewy dark rolls round her balmy side, 
And all goes right, and merrily, with the world. 

Spring with a tender beauty clothes the earth, 
Happy, and jewell'd like a sumptuous Bride, 
As tho' she knew no sorrow — held no grave : 
No glory dims for all the hearts that break, 
And all goes right, and merrily, with the world. 

Birds sing as sweetly on the blossom'd boughs, 
Suns mount as royally their sapphire throne, 
Stars bud in gorgeous gloom, and harvests yield, 
As tho' man nestled in the lap of Love : 
All, all goes right, and merrily, with the world. 

But slip this silken-folded mask aside, 

And lo, Hell welters at our very feet ! 

The Poor are murder'd body and soul, the Rich 

In Pleasure's chalice melt their pearl of life ! 

Ay, all goes right, and merrily, with the world. 

Lean out into the looming Future, mark 

The battle roll across the night to come ! 

" See how we right our Wrongs at last," Revenge 

Writes with red radiance on the midnight heaven 

Yet, all goes right, and merrily, with the world. 

So Sodom, grim old Reveller ! went to death. 
Voluptuous Music throbb'd thro' all her courts, 
Mirth wanton'd at her heart, one pulse before 
Fire-tongues told out her bloody tale of wrong, — 
And all went right, and merrily, with the world. 



THE AWAKENING OF THE PEOPLE. 369 



THE AWAKENING OF THE PEOPLE. 

O sweet is the fair face of Nature, when Spring 

With living flower-rainbow in glory hath spann'd 
Hill and dale ; and the music of birds on the wing 

Makes earth seem a beautiful faery land ! 
And dear is our first-love's young spirit-wed bride, 
With her meek eyes just sheathing in tender 
eclipse, 
When the sound of our voice calls her heart's ruddy 
tide 
Up in beauty to break on her cheeks and her 
lips. 
But Earth has no sight half so glorious to see, 
As a People up-girding its might to be free. 

O to see men awake from the slumber of ages, 
With brows grim from labour, and hands hard 
and tan, 
Start up living heroes, the dreamt-of by Sages ! 
And smite with strong arm the oppressors of 
man : 
To see them come dauntless forth 'mid the world's 
warring, 
Slaves of the midnight-mine ! serfs of the sod ! 
Show how the Eternal within them is stirring, 

And never more bend to a crowned clod : . 

Dear God ! 't is a sight for Immortals to see, — 
A People up-girding its might to be free. 

Battle on bravely, O sons of humanity ! 
Dash down the cup from your lips, O ye Toil- 
ers ! 
Too long hath the world bled for tyrants' insan- 
ity— 
Too long our weakness been strength to our 
spoilers. 

24 



370 THE WORKER. 

For Freedom and Right, gallant hearts, wrestle 
ever, 
And speak ye to others the proud words that won 
ye: 
lour rights conquer'd once, shall be wrung from 
you never; 
Battle on ! battle aye ! Heaven's eyes are on ye 
And Earth has no sight half so glorious to see, 
As a People up-girding its might to be free ! 



THE WORKER. 

I care not a curse though from birth he inherit 

The tear-bitter bread and the stingings of scorn, 
If the man be but one of God's nobles in spirit, — 

Though penniless, richly-soul'd, — heartsome, 
though worn — 
And will not for golden bribe lout it or flatter, 

But clings to the Right aye, as steel to the pole : 
He may sweat at the plough, loom, or anvil, no 
matter, 

I '11 own him the man that is dear to my soul. 

His hand may be hard, and his raiment be tatter'd, 

On straw-pallet nightly his weary limbs rest ; 
If his brow wear the stamp of a spirit unfetter'd, 

I 'm mining at once for the gems in his breast. 
Give me the true man, who will fear not nor falter, 

Though Want be his guerdon, the Workhouse 
his goal, 
Till his heart has burnt out upon Liberty's Altar : 

For this is the man I hold dear to my soul. 

True hearts, in this brave world of blessings and 
beauty, 
Will scorn the poor splendour of losel and lurker ; 



god's world is worthy better men. 371 

Toil is creation's crown, worship is duty, 

And greater than Gods in old days is the Work- 
er. 
For us the wealth-laden world laboureth ever ; 

For us harvests ripen, winds blow, waters roll ; 
And him who gives back in his might of endeav- 
our, 
I '11 cherish, — a man ever dear to my soul. 



GOD'S WORLD IS WORTHY BETTER 

MEN. 

Behold ! an idle tale they tell, 

And who shall blame their telling it ? 
The rogues have got their cant to sell, 

The world pays well for selling it ! 
They say the world 's a desert drear, — 

Still plagued with Egypt's blindness ! 
That we were sent to suffer here, — 

What ! by a God of kindness ? 
That since the world hath gone astray 

It must be so for ever, 
And we should stand still, and obey 

Its Desolators. Never ! 
We '11 labour for the better time, 

With all our might of Press and Pen ; 
Believe me, 't is a truth sublime, 

God's world is worthy better men. 

With Paradise the world began, 

A world of love and gladness : 
Its beauty may be marr'd by man 

With all his crime and madness. 
Yet 't is a brave world still. Love brings 

A sunshine for the drearv : 



372 NEBRASKA. 

With all our strife, sweet Rest hath wings 

To fold o'er hearts a-weary. 
The Sun in glory, like a God, 

To-day in heaven is shining, 
The flowers upon the jewell'd sod 



rnino- 



5* 



Are sweet love-posies tw 
As radiant of immortal youth 

And beauty, as in Eden ; then 
Believe me, 'tis a noble truth, 

God's world is worthy better men. 

O ! they are bold, knaves over-bold, 

Who say we are doom'd to anguish : 
That men in God's own image soul'd, 

Like hell-bound slaves, must languish. 
Probe Nature's heart to its red core, 

There 's more of good than evil ; 
And man, down-trampled man, is more 

Of Angel than of Devil. 
Prepare to die ? Prepare to live ! 

We know not what is living : 
And let us for the world's good give, 

As God is ever giving. 
Give Action, Thought, Love, Wealth, and Time, 

To win the primal age again ; 
Believe me, 't is a truth sublime, 

God's world is worthy better men. 



NEBRASKA : OR, THE SLAVERY-ABOLI- 
TIONIST TO HIS BRIDE. 

Sad I come for thy caresses, bonny bride, bonny 
bride, 
And my nestling brow is bound with crown of 
thorn ; 



NEBRASKA. 373 

And the more thy leal heart presses, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
Is thy true and tender bosom pierced and torn. 

I have gloom'd thy girlish gladness, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
Made thee tearful in thy Wifehood's dewy 
dawn, 
Given thy voice a soul of sadness, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
Set thy dainty cheek's ripe beauty waxing wan. 

The wild light of wilder'd sorrows, bonny bride, 

bonny bride, 

Is the lustre that comes flashing to thine eyes, 

As of hopes that know no morrows, bonny bride, 

bonny bride, 

Or from sunken suns that set no more to rise. 

My poor heart hath put on mourning, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
For the death of sweet and saintly Liberty ; 
It was down the Traitor's Turning, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
That they smote her in the Country of the Free. 

Where the Ark of Freedom rested, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
When the May-Flower rode so bravely o'er the 
Flood, 
Where the Bird of Freedom nested, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
In the land our Fathers bought with precious 
blood. 

They have broken every promise, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
False as hell to League, and Covenant, and 
vow : — 



374 NEBRASKA. 

Torn the Babes of Freedom from us, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
Grim as Herod ! and like Herod they shall bow. 

In the mire our Banner's trailing, bonny bride, 
bonny bride ; 
It but symbols bloody stripes and bitter tears, 
To a world of Tyrants hailing, bonny bride, bonny 
bride, 
And a world of Slaves that groans, a Hell that 
cheers. 

Our good Bark is heavily wearing, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
And the hungry sharks they track us thro' the 
sea, 
With their cruel keen eyes glaring, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
For the burial of embalmed Liberty. 

How the darkness round us presses, bonny bride, 
bonny bride ! 
By the dying watch-fire hearts sit dark and 
dumb ; 
And we strain and make blind guesses, bonny bride, 
bonny bride. 
Of the morning and the morrow that shall 
come. 

0, 't will be a fearful waking, bonny bride, bonny 
bride, 
Should the faces of our Brothers dawn in view, 
With the light above us breaking, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
And the earth beneath us wet with crimson dew. 

We are weak, and win derision, bonny bride, bonny 
bride, 
All too weak to crush the Serpents that we clasp ; 



NEBRASKA. 375 

But I see in solemn vision, bonny bride, bonny 
bride, 
The young Heroes who shall kill them in their 
grasp. 

See — the Flag of Freemen dancing, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
On the "Tyrants' towers, and Ruins of old 
Wrong — 
See — the Slave's proud eyes up-glancing, bonny 
bride, bonny bride, 
With the heart that breaks no more, save into 
song. 

See — the hills of earth that whiten, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
With the "feet of angels coming down to men ! 
See — the homes of earth that brighten, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
With the beautiful that vanisht, come again. 

There 's a long road, wild and dreary, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
Thro' the winding ways of Sorrow's wilderness ! 
And a many will fall weary, bonny bride, bonny 
bride, 
And but few the honeyed Land of Promise 
press. 

Yet we '11 battle on with bravery, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
We shall battle on as Sabbathless as Doom ; 
And we'll leave the land of Slavery, bonny bride, 
bonny bride, 
Tho' the wreath of Victory crown the Martyr's 
tomb. 



376 IT WILL END IX THE RIGHT. 



IT WILL END IN THE RIGHT. 

Never despair ! O, my Brother in sorrow ! 

I know that our mourning is ended not. Yet, 
Shall the vanquisht to-day be the Victors to-morrow, 
Our Star shall shine on when the Tyrant's sun 'a 
set. 
Hold on ! tho' they spurn thee, for whom thou art 
living 
A life oniy cheer'd by the lamp of its love : 
Hold on ! Freedom's hope to the bounden ones 
giving : 
Green spots in the waste wait the worn spirit- 
dove. 
Hold on, — still hold on, — in the world's despite, 
Nurse the faith in thy heart, keep the lamp of God 

bright, 
And, my life for thine ! it shall end in the Right. 

What, tho' the Martyrs and Prophets have perisht ? 
The Angel of Life rolls the stone from their 
graves : 
Immortal 's the faith, and the freedom they cherisht, 
Their lone Triumph-cry stirs the spirits of slaves ! 
They are gone, — but a Glory is left in our life, 
Like the day-god's last kiss on the darkness of 
Even — 
Gone down on the desolate seas of their strife, 

To climb as star-beacons up Liberty's heaven. 
Hold on, — still hold on, — in the world's despite, 
Nurse the faith in thy heart, keep the lamp of God 

bright, 
And, my life for thine ! it shall end in the Right. 

Think of the Wrongs that have ground us for 
. ages, 
Think of the Wrongs we have still to endure ! 



A WELCOME TO LOUIS KOSSUTH. 377 

Think of our blood, red on History's pages ; 

Then work, that our reck'ning be speedy and 
sure. 
Slaves, cry unto God ! but be our God reveal'd 
In our lives, in our works, in our warfare for 
man ; 
And bearing — or borne upon — Victory's shield, 

Let us fight battle-harness'd, and fall in the van. 
Hold on, — still hold on, — in the world's despite, 
Nurse the faith in thy heart, keep the lamp of God 

bright, 
And, my life for thine ! it shall end in the Right. 



A WELCOME TO LOUIS KOSSUTH. 

Ho ! Patriots of old England, wake ! 

And join ye heart and hand, 
To welcome him for Freedom's sake 

To our free fatherland ! 
He needs no proud triumphal arch, 

Nor banners on the wind : 
In hearts that beat his triumph-march, 

Is Kossuth fitly shrined ! 
We meet him here, we greet him here — 

With Love's wide arms caress him ! 
And Kings have no such welcome here, 

As Kossuth hath : God bless him. 

He rose like Freedom's morning star, 

Where all was darkling, dim — 
We saw his glory from afar, 

And fought in soul for him ! 
Brave Victor ! how his radiant brow 

King'd Freedom's host like Saul ! 
And in his crown of sorrow now 

He 's royallest heart of all. 



378 A WELCOME TO LOUIS KOSSUTH. 

We meet him here, we greet him here — 
With Love's wide arms caress him ! 

And Kings have no such welcome here, 
As Kossuth hath : God bless him. 

Ay, English hearts thro' proud tears gush 
• With glory at his name — 
Whose brave deeds made the roused blood rush 

Along our veins like flame : 
We cheer'd him thro' his hero-strife — 

And, in his presence met, 
We '11 show the world that noble life 

Lives in Old England yet ! 
We meet him here, we greet him here — 

With Love's wide arms caress him ! 
And Kings have no such welcome here, 

As Kossuth hath : God bless him. 

He cometh dim with glorious dust, 

From out his wrestling ring : 
But, blessings — praises — deathless trust — 

Like armies round him cling ! 
And Freedom runs her radiant round, 

Tho' clouds shut out the sky ; 
And yet the World's great heart shall bounH 

To Kossuth's conquering cry. 
We meet him here, we greet him here — 

With Love's wide arms caress him ! 
And Kings have no such welcome here, 

As Kossuth hath : God bless him. 

His Hungary billows o'er with graves 

Of Martyrs not in vain : 
A rising ripening harvest waves 

Its fruit of that red rain ! 
And once again the Hapsburgh Star 

His flaming Sword shall dim ; 
And palsy strike the arm that dare 

Not strike a blow for him ! 



379 



We meet him here, we greet him here — 
With Love's wide arms caress him ! 

And Kings have no such welcome here, 
As Kossuth hath : God bless him. 

Ring out, exult, and clap your hands, 

Free Men and Women brave — 
Shout, Britain I shake the startled lands, 

And free the bounden Slave ! 
Come forth, make merry in the sun, 

And give him welcome due ; 
Heroic hearts have crown'd him one 

Of Earth's Immortal few ! 
We meet him here, we greet him here — 

With Love's wide arms caress him ! 
And Kings have no such welcome here, 

As Kossuth hath : God bless him. 



EDEN. 

There is not a rift in the blue sky now, 

Where a million tempests tore it ; 
There is not a furrow on Ocean's brow, 

Tho' a million years have past o'er it. 
And for all the strife and the storms that have 
roll'd 

Down the ages, grim and gory ; 
Earth weareth her pleasant face, as of old, 

And laughs in her morning glory. 
A.nd Man — tho' he beareth the brand of Sin, 

And the flesh and the devil have bound him — 
Hath a spirit within, to old Eden akin, 

Only nurture up Eden around him. 

The cloud may have fall'n on the human face, 
And its lordliest beauty blighted ; 



380 ONWARD AND SUNWARD. 

For love hath gone out with a dark'ning trace, 

Where its inward glory lighted. 
Yet the old world of love liveth still in the heart, 

As we 've many a sweet revealing ; 
And its rich fossil-jewels in tears will up-start 

With the warm flood of holier feeling. 
Ay, Man — tho' he beareth the brand of Sin, 

And the flesh and the devil have bound him — 
Hath a spirit within, to old Eden akin, 

Only nurture up Eden around him. 

O the terrors, the tortures, the miseries dark — 

That have curst us, and crusht, and cankered ! 
Yet, aye, from the Deluge, Humanity's Ark 

Hath on some serene Ararat anchored. 
The golden chains that link heaven to earth, 

The rusts of all time cannot sever ! 
Evil shall die in its own dark dearth, 

And the Good liveth on for ever. 
Ay, Man — tho' he beareth the brand of Sin, 

And the flesh and the devil have bound him — 
Hath a spirit within, to old Eden akin, 

Only nurture up Eden around him. 



ONWARD AND SUNWARD. 

Tell me the song of the beautiful Stars, 

As grandly they glide on their blue way above 
us, 
Looking, despite of our spirit's sin-scars, 

Down on us tenderly, yearning to love us ! 
This is the song in their work-worship sung, 
Down thro' the world-jewelled universe rung: 
u Onward for ever, for evermore onward," 
And ever they open their loving eyes Sunward. 



THE THREE VOICES. 3M 

" Onward," shouts Earth, with her myriad voices 
Of music, aye answering the song of the 
Seven, 
As like a wing'd child of God's love she rejoices, 

Swinging her censer of glory in heaven. 
And lo, it is writ by the finger of God, 
In sunbeams and flowers on the smiling green sod : 
Onward for ever, for evermore omvard, 
And ever she turneth all trustfully Sunward. 

The mightiest souls of all time hover o'er us, 

Who labor'd like Gods among men, and have 
gone 

Like great bursts of sun on the dark way before 
us : 
They 're with us, still with us, our battle fight 
on, 

Looking down victor-brow'd, from the glory-crown'd 
hill 

They beckon, and beacon us, on, onward still : 

And the true heart's aspirings are onward, still on- 
ward ; 

It turns to the Future, as earth turneth Sunward. 



THE THREE VOICES. 

A wailing voice comes up a desolate road, 

Drearily, drearily, drearily ! 
Where mankind have trodden the by-way of blood, 

Wearily, wearily, wearily ! 
Like a sound from the Dead Sea all shrouded in 
glooms, 
With breaking of hearts, fetters clanking, men 
groaning, 
Or chorus of Ravens, that croak among tombs, 
It comes with the mournfullest moanino- : 



382 THE THREE VOICES. 

" Weep, weep, weep ! 
Yoke-fellows, listen, 
Till tearful eyes glisten : 
'T is the voice of the Fast : the dark, grim-featured 

Past, 
All sad as the shriek of the midnight blast :. 

Weep, Aveep, weep, 
Tears to wash out the red, red stain, 

Where earth hath been fatted 
By brave hearts that rotted, 
And life ran a deluge of hot, bloody rain : 
Weep, weep, weep. 

Another voice comes from the millions that bend, 

Tearfully, tearfully, tearfully ! 
From hearts which the scourges of slavery rend, 

Fearfully, fearfully, fearfully ! 
From many a worn, noble spirit that breaks, 

In the world's solemn shadows adown in Life's 
valleys, 
From Mine, Forge, and Loom, trumpet-tongued it 
awakes, 
On the soul wherein Liberty rallies : 
" Work, work, work ! " 
Yoke-fellows, listen, 
Till earnest eyes glisten : 
'Tis the voice of the Present. It bids us, my 

brothers, 
Be Freemen : and then for the freedom of others 

Work, work, work ! 
For the Many, a holocaust long to the Few : 
O work while ye may ! 
O work while 't is day ! 
And cling to each other, united and true : 
Work, work, work. 

There cometh another voice sweetest of all, 
Cheerily, cheerily, cheerily ! 

And my heart leapeth up at its glorious call, 
Merrily, merrily, merrily ! 



THIS WORLD IS FULL OF BEAUTY. 383 

It comes like the soft touch of Spring-tide, un- 
warping 

The frost of oppression that bound us : 
It comes like a choir of the Seraphim, harping 

Their gladsomest music around us : 



Hope, hope, hop* 



Yoke-fellows, listen, 
Till gleeful eyes glisten : 
'Tis the voice of the Future, the sweetest of all, 
That makes the heart leap to its glorious call. 

Hope, hope, hope ! 
Brothers, step forth in the Future's van, 
For the worst is past, 
Right conquers at last, 
And the better day dawns upon suffering man : 
Hope, hope, hope. 



THIS WORLD IS FULL OF BEAUTY. 

There lives a voice within me, a guest-angel of 

my heart, 
And its sweet lispings win me, till the tears a-trem- 

bling start ; 
Up evermore it springeth, like some magic melody, 
And evermore it singeth this sweet song of songs 

to me — 
This world is„full of beauty, as other worlds above ; 
And, if we did our duty, it might be full of love. 

Night's starry tendernesses dower with glory ever- 
more, 

Morn's budding, bright, melodious hour comes 
sweetly as of yore ; 

But there be million hearts accurst, where no sweet 
sunbursts shine, 



384 THIS WORLD IS FULL OF BEAUTY. 

And there be million hearts athirst for Love's im- 
mortal wine. 
This world is full of beauty, as other worlds above ; 
And, if we did our duty, it might be full of love. 

If faith, and hope, and kindness pass'd, as coin, 
'twixt heart and heart, 

How, thro' the eye's tear-blindness, should the sud- 
den soul upstart ! 

The dreary, dim, and desolate, should wear a sunny 
bloom, 

And Love should spring from buried Hate, like 
flowers o'er Winter's tomb. 

This world is full of beauty, as other worlds above ; 

And, if we did our duty, it might be full of love. 

"Were truth our uttered language, Angels might 

talk with men, 
And God-illumined earth should see the Golden 

Age again ; 
The burthen'd heart should soar in mirth like 

Morn's young prophet-lark, 
And Misery's last tear wept on earth, quench Hell's 

last cunning spark. 
For this world is full of beauty, as other worlds 

above ; 
And, if we did our duty, it might be full of love. 

Lo ! plenty ripens round us, yet awakes the cry for 
bread, 

The millions still are toiling, crusht, and clad in 
rags, unfed ! 

While sunny hills and valleys richly blush with fruit 
and grain, 

But the paupers in the palace rob their toiling fel- 
low-men. 

This world is full of beauty, as other worlds 
above ; 

And, if we did our duty, it might be full of love. 



A SONG IN THE CITY. 385 

Dear God ! what hosts are trampled 'mid this kill- 
ing crush for gold ! 

What noble hearts are sapp'd of love ! what spirits 
lose life's hold ! 

Yet a merry world it might be, opulent for all, and 
aye, 

With its lands that ask for labour, and its wealth 
that wastes away. 

This world is full of beauty, as other worlds 
above ; 

And, if Ave did our duty, it might be full of love. 

The leaf-tongues of the forest, and the flow'r-lips 

of the sod — 
The happy Birds that hymn their raptures in the 

ear of God — 
The summer wind that bringeth music over land 

and sea, 
Have each a voice that singe th this sweet song of 

songs to me — 
This world is full of beauty, as other worlds above : 
And, if we did our duty, it might be full of love. 



A SONG IN THE CITY. 

Coining the heart, brain, and sinew, to gold, 
Till we sink in the dark, on the pauper's dole. 

Feeling for ever the hWerless mould, 
Growing about the uncrowned soul ! 

O, God ! O God ! must this evermore be 

The lot of the Children of Poverty ? 

The Spring is calling from brae and bower, 
In the twinkling sheen of the sunny hour, 

Earth smiles in her golden green ; 
There 's music below, in the glistering leaves, 
25 



386 A SONG IN THE CITY. 

There 's music above, and heaven's blue bosom 
heaves 
The silvery clouds between ; 
The boughs of the woodland are nodding in play, 
And wooingly beckon my spirit away — 

I hear the dreamy hum 
Of bees in the lime-tree, and birds on the spray ; 
And they, too, are calling my thinking away ; 
But I cannot — cannot come. 
Visions of verdant and heart-cooling places 

Will steal on my soul like a golden spring-rain, 
Bringing the lost light of brave, vanisht faces ; 

Till all my life blossoms with beauty again. 
But O, for a glimpse of the flower-laden Morning, 
That makes the heart leap up, and knock at heav- 
en's door ! 
O for the green lane, the green field, the green 
wood, 
To take in, by heartfuls, their greenness once 
more ! 
How I yearn to lie down and just roll in the mead- 
ows, 
And nestle in leaves, and the sleep of the shadows, 

Where violets in the cool gloom are awaking, 
There, let my soul out from its cavern of clay, 
To float down the warm spring, away and away ! 
Fob I was not made merely for money- 
making. 

At this wearisome work I oftentimes turn, 

From my bride, and my monitress, Duty, 
Forgetting the strife, and the wrestle of life, 

To talk with the spirit of beauty. 
The multitude's hum, and the chinking of gold, 

Grow hush as the dying of day, 
For on wings, making music, with joy untold, 

My heart is up, and away ! 
Glad as the bird in the tree-top chanting 



A SONG IN THE CITY. 387 

With its heart all in musical gratitude panting, 

And O, 't is a bliss to be ! 
Once more to drink in the life-breathing air, 

Lapt in luxurious flowers — 
To recall again the pleasures that were 

In Infancy's innocent hours — 
To wash the earth-stains and the dust from my 
soul, 

In nature's reviving tears, once more ; 
To feast at her banquet, and drink from her bowl 

Rich dew, for the heart's hot core. 
Ah me ! ah me ! it is heavenly then, 

And hints of the spirit-world, near alway, 
Are stirring, and stirr'd, in my heart again, 

Like leaves at the kiss of May : 
It is but a dream, yet 't is passing sweet, 

And when from its spells my spirit is waking, 
Dark is my heart, and the wild tears start ; 

For I was not made merely for money- 
making. 

My soul leaneth out, to the whisperings 

Of the mighty, the marvellous spirits of old ; 
And heaven-ward soareth to strengthen her wings, 

When Labour relapseth its earthly hold ; 
And breathless with awfullest beauty, — it listens, 

To catch the Night's deep, starry mystery ; 
Or in mine eyes, dissolved, it glistens, 

Big, for the moan of Humanity. 
Much that is written within its chamber, 
Much that is shrined in the mind's living amber, 

Much of this thought of mine, — 
I fain would struggle and give to birth ; 
For I would not pass away from earth, 

And make no sign ! 
I yearn to utter, what might live on, 
In the world's heart, when I am gone 
I would not plod on, like these slaves of gold, 

Who darken their souls, in a dusky cave : 



388 THE FAMINE-SMITTEN. 

I would see the world better, and nobler-soul'd, 

Ere I lay me down in my green turf-grave. 
I may toil till my life is filled with dreariness, 
Toil till my heart is a wreck in its weariness, 
Toil for ever, for tear-steept bread, 
Till I go down to the silent dead. 
But, by this yearning, this hoping, this aching, 
I ^AS NOT MADE MERELY FOR MONEY-MAKING 



THE FAMINE-SMITTEN. 

In the tears of the Morning — 

The smiles of the sun, 
The green Earth's adorning 

Told spring had begun ! 
Warm woods donn'd their beauty, wrought 

Through long still nights, 
And musical breezes brought 

Flowery delights : 
The humming leaves flasht 

Rich in light, with sweet sound, 
And the glad waters dasht 

Their starry spray round ! 
The wood-bines up-climbing, 

Laught out, pink and golden, 
And bees made sweet chiming 

In roses half-folden. 
But where was that infant-band, 

Wont in spring weather 
To wander forth, hand-in-hand, 

Violets to gather ? 
Ah misery ! they slept, 

The dear blossoms of love ! 
Where the green branches wept, 

And the grass crept above ; 



THE FAMINE-SMITTEN. 389 

Melodious gladness 

Throbb'd thro' the rich air, 
But the anguish of madness 

Rent Poverty's lair; 
For Famine had smitten 

Its pride of life low, 
And agony written 

On heart and on brow. 
Sweet from the boughs the birds 

Sang in their mirth, 
The lark messaged heaven-wards 

Blessings from earth — 
But I turn'd Avhere our gentle Lord's 

Loves lay in dearth. 
They heard not, nor heeded, 

The sounds of life o'er them ! 
They felt not, nor needed, 

The hot tears wept for them ! 
But earth-flowers were springing 

O'er human flowers' grave, 
And, O God ! what heart-wringing 

Their tender looks gave ! 
They died ! died of hunger — 

By bitter want blasted ! 
While wealth for the Wronger 

Ran over untasted — 
While Pomp, in joy's rosy bow'rs, 

Wasted life's measure, 
Chiding the lagging hours, 

AVearied of pleasure ! 
They died ! while men hoarded 

The free gifts of God : 
They died ! 't is recorded 

In letters of blood. 
Yet the corn on the hills 

Waves its showery gold crown ; 
Still Nature's lap fills * 

With the good heaven drops down. 



390 



O ! this world might be lighted 

With Eden's first smile — 
Angel-haunted — unblighted, 

With Freedom for "Toil : 
But they wring out our blood 

For their banquet of gold! 
They annul laws of God, 

Soul and body are sold ! 
Hark now ! hall and palace, 

King out, dome and rafter ! 
Ay, laugh on, ye callous ! 

In Hell there '11 be laughter : 
But tremble, hell-makers ; 

The shorn among men — 
The world's image-breakers 

Grow mighty again ; 
There be stern times a-coming, 

The dark days of reck'ning, 
The storms are up-looming — 

The Nemesis wak'ning ! 
On heaven, blood shall call, 

Earth quake with pent thunder, 
And shackle and thrall 

Shall be riven asunder. 
It will come, it shall come, 

Impede it what may : 
Up, People ! and welcome 

Your glorious day. 



PEACE. 

Yes, Peace is beautiful ; and I do yearn 
For her to clasp the World's poor tortured heart, 
As sweet spring warmth doth brood o'er coming 

flowers. 
But peace with these Leviathans of blood — 



PEACE. 391 

Who pirate crimson seas, devouring men ? 

Give them the hand of brotherhood — whose fangs 

Are in our hearts with the grim blood-hound's 

grip ? 
Wouldst see Peace, idiot-like, with smirk and smile, 
A-planting flowers to coronal Truth's grave ? 
Peace, merry-making round the funeral pyre, 
Where Freedom, fiery-curtained, weds with death ? 
Peace, mirroring her form by pools of blood, — 
Crowning the Croat in Vienna's fosse, 
With all sweet influences of thankful eyes, 
For murder of the glorious Burschenschaft ? 
Peace with Oppression, which doth tear dear 

friends 
And brothers from our side to-day, and comes 
To eat our hearts and drink our blood to-mor- 
row ? 
Out on 't ! it is the Tyrant's cunning cant, 
The robe of sheen flung o'er its deadly daggers, 
Which start to life, whene'er it hugs to death. 
I answer, War ! — war with the cause of war, — 
War with our misery, want, and wretchedness, — 
War with curst Gold, which is an endless war 
On Love, and God, and our Humanity ! 
Brothers, I bid ye forth to glorious war ! 
Patch fig-leaves o'er the naked truth no more. 
The stream of Time runs red with our best blood ! 
Time's seed-field we have sown with fratricide, 
And dragon's teeth have sprung, ay, in our hearts. 
O ! we have fought and bled on land and sea, 
Heapt glory's car with myriads of the brave, 
Spilt blood by oceans — treasures by the million, 
At every Tyrant's beck. Had we but shed 
Such warm and eloquent blood for Freedom's faith, 
War's star in heaven had lost its name ere now. 
" Brothers ! " I cried, — well, Brothers, brother 

slaves ! 
O ! but to give ye slaves their valiant heart, 
Whose dumb, dead dust is worth your living souls — 



392 ' PEACE. 

Dear God ! 't were sweet to kiss the scaffold-block ! 
I 'd proudly leap death's darkness, to let shine 
The Future's promise thro' your sorrow's tears ! 
Sorrow ? ah, no ! ye feel not sense so holy : 
The worm of misery riots in your hearts — 
Ye hear your younglings in the drear midnight 
Make moan for bread, when ye have none to 

give ! — 
Ye drain your life, warm, for the vulture's drink ! 
The groaning land is choked with living death. 
O ! ye are mated to the things of scorn. 
And I have heard your miserable madness 
Belckt forth in drunken paeans to your tyrants, 
Pledging your murderers to the hell they 've made ! 
Ah, Christ ! was it for this, thou sudden sun, 
Didst light these centuries with thy dying smile? — 
Was it for this, so many and so many 
Have hackt their spirit-swords against our fetters 
And killing cords, that bleed our hearts to death — 
Wept griefs might turn the soul grey in an hour — 
Broke their great hearts for love, and, in despair, 
Dasht their immortal crowns to earth, and died ? 
Was it for this the countless Host of Martyrs, 
Becrown'd and robed in fiery martyrdom, 
Beat out a golden-aged Future from 
The angel-metal of their noble lives — 
Clomb the red scaffold — strain'd their weary eyes, 
Across the mists of ages, for one glimpse 
Of midnight burning into that bright Dawn 
Now bursting golden, up the skies of time ? 
When will ye put your human glory on ? 
How long will ye lie darkling desolate, 
With barren brain, blind life, and fallow heart? 
The hollow yearning grave will kindly close, 
And flowers spring where the mould lay freshly 

dark ! 
The leaves will burst from out the naked'st boughs, 
Fire-ripen'd into glorious greenery, 
Waste moor and fen will kindle into spring : 



PEACE. 393 

How long will ye lie darkling desolate ? 

Lord God Almighty ! what a spring of freedom 

Awaits to burst the winter of our world ! 

O ! if aught moving thrills a brother's love, 

Which pleads for utterance in blinding tears, 

Then let these words burn living in your souls, 

Snatch Fear's cold hand from off your palsied 

hearts, 
And send the intrepid shudder through your veins. 
Helots of Albion ! Penury's nurslings ! rise, 
And swear, in God's name, and in Heaven's or 

Hell's, 
Ye will bear witness at the birth of Freedom ! 
Arise, and front the blessed light of Heaven, 
With tyrant-quailing manhood in your looks ! 
Arise, go forth to glorious war for right, 
And justice, and mankind's high destiny ! 
Arise, 'tis Freedom's bleeding fight, strike home 
Wherever tyrants lift the gorgon-head ! 
There is a chasm in the coming years, 
A-gape for strife's Niagara of blood — 
Or to be bridged by brave hearts linkt in love. 
The world is stirring with its might}' purpose : 
No more be laggards in the march of men. 
The Vulture Despotism spreads wide its wings 
Right royally, to give ye broader mark ! 
And the hag Evil sickens unto death, 
With her sore travail o'er the birth of Good. 
And yet shall War's red-letter'd creed die out ; 
Where blood is running, shall the wild-flowers 

blow ; 
Where men are groaning, shall their children 

sing ; 
And Peace and Love re-Genesis the world. 



394 A GLIMPSE OF AULD LANG-SYNE. 



A GLIMPSE OF AULD LANG-SYNE. 

Earth, sparkling Bride-like, bares her bosom to 

the nestling Night, 
Who hath come down in glory from the golden 

halls of light ; 

Ten thousand tender, starry eyes smile o'er the 

world at rest, 
The weary world — husht like an infant on its 

mother's breast ! 

The great old hills thrust up their foreheads in 
rieh-sleeping light : 

How humbly-grand, and still they stand, worship- 
ping God to-night ! 

The flowers have hung their cups with gems of their 

own sweetness wrought, 
And muse and smile upon their stems, in ecstasy of 

thought : 

They have banqueted on beauty, at the fragrant 

Eve's red lips. 
And fold in charmed rest, with crowns upon their 

velvet tips. 

No green tide sweeps the sea of leaves, no wind- 
sigh stirs the sod, 

While Holiness broods dove-like on the soul, beget- 
ting God. 

Sweet hour ! thou wak'st the feeling that we never 

know by day, 
For angel eyes look down, and read the spirit 

'neath the clay : 



A GLIMPSE OF AULD LANG-SYNE. 395 

Even while I listen, music stealeth in upon my 

soul, 
As though adown heaven's stair of stars, the 

seraph-harpings stole — 

Or I could grasp the immortal part of life, and 

soar, and soar, 
Such strong wings take me, and my heart hath 

found such hidden lore ! 

It flings aside the weight of years, and lovingly 

goes back, 
To that sweet time, the dear old days, that glisten 

on its track ! 

Life's wither'd leaves grow green again, and fresh 
with Childhood's spring, 

As I am welcomed back once more within its rain- 
bow-ring : — 

The Past, with all its gather'd charms, beckons me 

back in joy, 
And loving hearts, and open arms, re-clasp me as a 

boy. 

The voices of the Loved and Lost are stirring at 

my heart, 
And memory's miser'd treasures leap to life, with 

sudden start, — 

As through her darken'd windows, warm and glad 

sunlight creeps in, 
And Lang-syne, glimpst in glorious tears, my toil- 
n worn soul doth win. 

Thou art looking, smiling on me, as thou hast lookt 

and smiled, Mother, 
And I am sitting by thy side, at heart a very child, 

Mother ! " 



396 A GLIMPSE OF AULD LANG-SYXE. 

I'm with thee now in soul, sweet Mother, much as 

in those hours, 
When all my wealth was in thy love, and in the 

birds and flowers, 

When the long summer days were short, for my 

glad soul to live 
The golden fulness of the bliss, each happy hour 

could give. 

When Heaven sang to my innocence, and every 

leafy grove 
And forest ached with music, as a young heart 

aches with love. 

When life oped like a flower, where clung my lips, 

to quaff its honey, 
And joys throng'd like a shower of gold king-cups 

in meadows sunny. 

I '11 tell thee, Mother ! since we met, stern changes 

have come o er me : 
Then life smiled like a paradise, the world was all 

before me. 

O ! I was full of trusting faith, and, in my glee and 

gladness, 
Deem'd not that others had begun as bright, whose 

end was madness. 

I knew not smiles could light up eyes, like Sunset's 

laughing glow 
On some cold stream, which burns above, while all 

runs dark below ; 

That on Love's summer sea, great souls go down, 

while some, grown cold, 
Seal up affection's living spring, and sell their love 

for gold ; 



A GLIMPSE OF AULD LANG-SYNE. 397 

How they on whom we 'd staked the heart forget 

the early vow, 
And they who swore to love through life would 

pass all coldly now; 

How, in the soul's dark hour, Love's temple-veil is 

rent in twain, 
And the heart quivers thorn-crown'd on the cross 

of fiery pain. 

And shatter'd idols, broken dreams, come crowding 

on my brain, 
As speaks the spirit-voice of days that never come 

again. 

It tells of golden moments lost — heart sear'd — 

blind Passion's thrall ; 
Life's spring-tide blossoms run to waste, Love's 

honey turn'd to gall. 

It tells how many and often high resolve and pur- 
pose strong, 

Shaped on the anvil of my heart, have died upon 
my tongue. 

I left thee, Mother, in sweet May, the merry month 
of flowers, 

To toil away in dusky gloom the golden summer- 
hours. 

I left my world of love behind, with soul for life 

a- thirsting, 
My burning eyelid dropt no tear, although my 

heart was bursting. 

For I had knit my soul to climb, with poverty its 

burden ; 
Give me but time, O give me time, and I would 

win the guerdon. 



398 MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE. 

Ah, Mother ! many a heart that all my aspiration 
cherisht, 

Hath fallen in the trampling strife, and in the life- 
march perisht. 

We see the bleeding victims lie upon the world's 

grim Altar, 
And one by one young feelings die, and dark 

doubts make us falter. 

Mother, the world hath wreakt its part on me, with 

scathing power, 
Yet the best life that heaves my heart runs for thee 

at this hour. 

And by these holy yearnings, by these eyes with 

sweet tears wet, 
I know there wells a spring of love through all my ' 

being yet. 



MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE. 

Merry Christmas Eve ! in the Palace where 
knavery 
Crowds all the treasures the fair world can ren- 
der : 
Where spirits grow rusted in silkenest slavery, 

And life is out-panted, in sloth, and in splendour 
In gladness and glory, "Wealth's darlings were 
meeting, 
And jewel-claspt fingers linkt softly again ; 
New friendships were twining, and old friends were 
greeting, 
And twin hearts grew one, in God's golden love- 
chain. 



MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE. 399 

Merry Christmas Eve ! in a poor man's grim hovel, 

There huddled in silence a famishing family ; 
Church-bells were laughing in musical revel, 

They heard the loud mockery, with brows throb- 
bing clammily; 
All in the merry time there they sat, mourning — 
Two sons — two brothers — in penal chains 
bleeding ; 
Their hearts wandered forth to the never-returning, 
Who rose on their vision, pale, haggard, and 
pleading. 

Merry Christinas Eve! for the rich, there was music, 
And dancing, and many a wine woo'd on the 
board ; 
O FalstafT ! you Prince of Lies ! 't would have 
made you sick, 
To hear how they flattered a Mammonite Lord ! 
Love-kisses sobb'd out 'twixt the rollic and rout, 
And Hope went forth, reaping-in long-promist 
treasure. 
What matter, tho' hearts might be breaking with- 
out? 
Their moans were unheard in the palace of 
pleasure. 

Merry Christmas Eve ! but the stricken ones heard 

No neighbourly welcome, no kind voice of kin ; 
They lookt at each other, but spake not a word, 

While through crevice, and cranny, the sleet 
drifted in. 
In a desolate corner, one, hunger-kill'd, lay, 

And the mother's hot tears were a bosom-babe's 
food. 
What marvel, O Statesman, what marvel, I pray, 

Such misery nurseth Crime's dark viper-brood ? 

O men, angel-imaged in Nature's fair mint, 
And is it for this, ye were fashioned divine ? 



400 THE CHIVALRY OF LABOUR, ETC. 

Ah, where 's the god-stamp — Immortality's print? 
We are tyrants and slaves, knit in one tortured 
twine : 
That a few, like to gods, may stride over the earth, 
Millions, born to be murdered, are given in 
pawn ; 
When will the world quicken for Liberty's birth, 
Which she waiteth, with eager wings beating the 
dawn ? 

False Priests, dare ye say 't is the will of your 
God, 
(And shroud the Christ's message in dark soph- 
istry,) 
That these millions of paupers should bow to the 
sod ? 
Up, up, trampled hearts, it 's a lie ! it 's a lie ! 
They may carve " State " and " Altar " in charac- 
ters golden, 
But Tyranny's symbols are ceasing to win; 
Be stirring, O people, your scroll is unfolden, 
And bright be the deeds ye emblazon therein. 



THE CHIVALRY OF LABOUR EXHORTED 
TO THE WORSHIP OF BEAUTY. 

Our world oft turns in gloom, and Life hath many 

a perilous way, 
Yet there's no path so desolate and thorny, cold 

and gray, 
But Beauty as a Beacon burns above the dark of 

strife, 
And like an Alchemist aye turns all things to 

golden life. 
On human hearts her presence droppeth precious 

manna down, 



THE CHIVALRY OF LABOUR, ETC. 401 

On human brows her glory gathers like a coming 

crown : 
Her smile lights up Life's troubled stream, and 

Love, the swimmer! lives; 
And O 't is brave to battle for the guerdon that she 

gives ! 
Then let us worship Beauty with the knightly faith 

of old, 
O Chivalry of Labour toiling for the Age of Gold ! 

The first-fruits of the Past at Beauty's shrine are 
offer'd up, 

From which a vintage meet for Gods she crusheth 
in her cup : 

And from the living Present doth she press the 
rare new wine, 

To glad the hearts of all her lovers with a draught 
divine. 

Earth's crowning miracle! she comes! with bless- 
ing lips, that part 

Like mid-May's rose flusht open with the fragrance 
of her heart : 

And life turns to her colour — kindles with her 
light — like flowers 

That garner up the golden fire, and suck the mel- 
low showers. 

Come let us worship Beauty with the knightly faith 
of old, 

O Chivalry of Labour toiling for the Age of Gold ! 

L Come let us worship Beauty where the budding 

Spring doth flower, 
And lush green leaves and grasses flush out sweeter 

every hour; 
Or Summer's tide of splendour floods the lap o' the 

World once more, 
With riches like a sea that surges jewels on its shore. 
Come feel her ripening influence when Moi-ning 

feasts our eyes — 
26 



402 THE CHIVALRY OF LABOUR, ETC. 

Thro' open gates of glory — with a glimpse of Par- 
adise : 

Or queenly Night sits crowned, smiling down the 
purple gloom, 

And Stars, like Heaven's fruitage, melt i' the glory 
of their bloom. 

Come let us worship Beauty with tbe knightly faith 
of old, 

O Chivalry of Labour toiling for the Age of Gold ! 

Come from the den of darkness and the city's soil 

of sin, 
Put on your radiant Manhood, and the Angel's 

blessing win ! 
Where wealthier sunlight comes from Heaven, like 

welcome-smiles of God, 
And Earth's blind yearnings leap to life in flowers, 

from out the sod : 
Come worship Beauty in the forest-temple, dim and 

hush, 
Where stands Magnificence dreaming ! and God 

burnetii in the bush : 
Or where the old hills worship with their silence 

for a psalm, 
Or Ocean's weary heart doth keep the sabbath of 

its calm. 
Come let us worship Beauty with the knightly faith 

of old, 
O Chivalry of Labour toiling for the Age of 

Gold ! 

Come let us worship Beauty : she hath subtle power 
to start 

Heroic word and deed out-flashing from the hum- 
blest heart ! 

Great feelings will gush unawares, and freshly as 
the first 

Rich Rainbow that up startled Heaven in tearful 
splendour burst. 



TO MY WIFE. 403 

O blessed are her lineaments, and wondrous are 

rher ways 
To re-picture God's worn likeness in the faded 

human face ! 
Our bliss shall richly overbrim like sunset in the 

west, 
And we shall dream immortal dreams, and banquet 

with the Ble«t : 
Then let us worship Beauty with the knightly faith 

of old, 
O Chivalry of Labour toiling for the Age of Gold ! 



TO MY WIFE. 

1852. 

Like those Ambassadors of old, that went 

To the far Orient land, with kingly gifts 

Of gems — from which a subtle spirit lookt — 

To nestle richly between Beauty's breasts, 

And crown her gorgeous brows with winking flame, 

Or clothe her starrily as Queenly Night ; 

And found that land a garden where they grew, 

Lavish, as all the dews were turn'd to gems ; 

So bring I thee, Sweet Lady of my love, 

My jewels, I have garner'd up, to find 

How poor they are beside thy peerless wealth. 

Th' Elysium where thy tender spirit dwells 

Is written o'er with thoughts of beauty, thick 

As starry mysteries written on the night. 

Thy realm is rich in Memory's golden mines, 

And flashing out with harvest-fields of Hope. 

My Muse ! that moveth swathed with holier light, 

Throned on the regnant heights of Womanhood 

In all thy summer beauty, warm as when 



404 TO MY WIFE. 

I lookt out on the sunny side of Life, 
And saw thee summering like a blooming Vine, 
That reaeheth globes of wine in at the lattice 
By the ripe armful, with ambrosial smile 

The flying Cares hut touch thy Life's fair face, 
Lightly as swimming shadows dusk the Lake. 
Come sit thee down, dear, by my side, To-night; 
The world shut out, our little world shut in ! 
Where we are happy as the Bird whose nest 
Is heaven'd in the hush of purple Hills, 
Or region'd in the palmy top of life. 
Now shut thine eyes, and see a pageant bloom 
Upon the dark, — a Vision sweeping by. 
I was a dweller amid shadows grim : 
Till Freedom toueht my yearning eyes, and lo! 
Life in a shining circle, rounding rose, 
As heaven on heaven goes up the jewelFd night. 
New floods of passionate life swirl'd at my heart, 
And Freedom was my glittering Bride. For me 
She walkt the world as a Divinity, 
Sang like a Spirit in Life's daiken'd ways, 
1' the Rainbow reacht forth girdling arms of love, 
To clasp the Unapparent to the Earth, — 
Turn'd common things to beauty : as the sun 
Kindles a glory in the grass and dust, — 
Went forth flame-plumed, in Chariot sublime, 
And rode the winds, like him who walks the worlds 
And when the fresh Morn ilower'd like a Rose, 
Birds sang of her, and all their happy hearts 
Rang out in music, Leaves elapt faery hands, 
The flowers for joy stood tearful in her glory, 
And World went singing, unto World, of Free- 
dom. 
And I would blazon her melodious name, 
Sing some wild pasan should touch the world to 

tears, 
Or chariot it to battle in her Cause : 
For O ! her softest breath, that might not stir 
The summer gossamer tremulous on its throne, 



TO MY WIFE. 405 

Makes the crown'd Tyrants start with realmless 

looks ! 
I would have given the lustre of my life 
To add one jewel to her Diadem ! 
And then thou eam'st, and Love grew lord of all. 
Look how the Sun pats out the eyes of fire ! 
So when Love's royal glance my lattice lit, 
The fires of Freedom whiten'd on my hearth. 
The sleeping Beauty in my heart's charm'd Palace 
Woke at Love's kiss. My life was set aflush, 
As Roses redden when the Spring moves by, 
And the green buds peer out like eyes, to see 
The delicate spirit whose sweet presence stirr'd 

them. 
How my heart ripen'd in its flooding spring ; 
As when the sap runs up the tingling trees, 
Till all the sunn}' life laughs out in leaves, 
And lifts its fluttering wings ! So my heart felt 
With such brave shoots of glory bursting up, 
As it had flower'd for Immortality. 
The heights of Being came out from their cloud, 
As the cliffs kindle when the Morning comes 
Swimming the utmost Sea in ruddy haste, 
With foam of glory ; and the flood of light, 
Like mellow wine, runs down remotest hills. 
Thou eam'st, my sparkling Bird of Paradise ! 
With a soft murmuring as of winnowing Avings 
That fold the nest so Dove-like tenderly ! 
With brow that parted lovely waves of hair, 
And took the gazer's eye like some white Grace ! 
Eyes, loving large ! Lips Houri-like, that light 
A soul to glory with their kiss of fire ; 
And cheeks fresh-misted with the bloom of Morn. 
And thou didst move, 4 Splendour mid Life's Shad- 
ows, 
Making a Rembrandt Picture./ So the Stars 
hi all their glory pass the shrinking Dark. 
O, I was stirr'd as though a Spirit went by ; 
Or 1 had met some awful Loveliness, 



406 TO MY WIFE. 

That haunts the realm of Dreams, or duskly floats 
Across the wondering solitudes of Thought. 
So Love was lord of all. I touch my lyre, 
And Love o'erflows my heart, and floods my hand. 
Love makes all dear delights so soothly sweet, 
Life pants heart-stifled 'neath its luscious load, 
Like young Earth claspt in June's voluptuous 

arms, 
Faint with her fragrance, flooded up in flowers. 
Love is divine life, Beauty is its smile. 
0, Love will make the killing crown of thorn 
Burst into blossom on the Martyr's brow ! 
Upon Love's bosom Earth floats like an Ark 
Through all the Deluge of the solemn dark. 
Love rays us round as glory swathes a star, 
And, from the mystic touch of lips and palms, 
Streams rosy warmth enough to light a world : 
And Spirit-eyes, from out the purpling glooms, 
Mark how we feed this human Altar-flame, 
How speeds this ripening into Deity ! 
AVhat glittering robes for immortality 
Trail starry radiance through our night of Earth ! 
And in our home thy presence maketh Love 
A Mortal, who hath died to rise again, 
Immortal, in its nobler life with thee. 

Love ! make clear my vision, roll thou up 
My orb of Song from Passion's misting deeps 
To climb the heavens, and win the eternal calm ; 
And though it shine not mid the Suns of Song, 
To set a World sweet-murmuring in its light, 
Like Memnon at the radiant touch of Dawn, 

1 know each Star hath its own perfect place 
Above, though it may have no name on Earth. 
I hope my hope, and dream my dream, that life 
With me shall yet ring out melodious, 'twixt 
The silences of heaven and the grave. 

O Labour ! blind and feeling for the day ! 
Might I go forth to peer with eagle ken 
Into the blessed land of promise, where 



DEATH OF HAVELOCK. 407 

The Future like a fruitfaller Summer sits 

Ripening Her Eden silently, to bear 

The crowning flower of consummated Life, — 

Where Freedom's Song-Birds fly, to build their nests, 

And warm to life their brood of darling dreams : 

Then see thy dai'k look lighten at my news, 

Thy dim eyes dance divinely at the grapes ! 

To loftier music time thy larger step ; 

And hearten thee to lift up clearer brows, 

Thy face o'errlowing like a shining Sea. 

I see a shape behind a mist, that burns 

In the flusht distance of some unseen Goal ; 

It grows with gazing on, like Lovers' beauty. 

With beckoning smiles the Glory draws me on ; 

One hand points up, one holds a glittering crown, 

For me to climb and wear with lordlier growth, 

And airy Voices call me, bid me leap 

In Victory's Car as it goes bickering by. 

And Thou, dear Wife ! with exultation lit, 

Wilt weep proud tears to enrich my wine of joy, — 

A costlier cup than ever Anthony's Queen 

Magnificent ! drank in her voluptuous vein ! 



DEATH OF HAVELOCK. 

Each day his face grew thinner, and sweeter, saint- 

lier grew ; 
And day by day they saw the soul fast burning into 

view : 
And higher, each day higher, did the life-flame 

heavenward climb, 
Like sad, sweet sunshine up the wall, that for the 

sunset time, 
Still watches, and the signal that shall call it hence 

is given, 
Even so his spirit kept the watch till beckoned 

home to heaven. 



DEATH OF HAVEI.OCK. 

War-worn and wasted ! yet his eyes were soft and 

s ird : 

His work was done : and in the arms of Victory he 
died ; 

Dropping the flesh-robe, with a smile, so gently did 
he pass, — 

Gently as spirits of the flowers from out the new- 
mown gr 

and darkness fell on every up- 
turned lace : 

The Shadow of an Angel going from its earthly 
place. 

They laid it low, the good grey head, not only grey 
with yea 

It had I ecu towed in Sorrow's lap. and silvered 
with her fa 

Our England might not crown it. with her heart too 
full for speech. 

The hand that draws into the dark, had borne it be- 
yond reach : 

The eyes of tar-away heaven-blue, with such keen 
lustre lit. 

As they could pierce the night of death, and star- 
like fathom it — 

They may not swim with sweetness, as the happy 
children run 

To welcome home the Reaper, when the weary day 
is done : 

Hjw would the tremulous radiance round the old 
man's mouth have smiled ! 

Our £ood srev-headed hero, with the heart of a 
" lit; le child! 

Xor sleeps he with our noble dead, beneath the 
Crass-crowned dom 

But now hath resting place more dear within the 
heart of Home. 

Honour to Henry Havelock ! tho' not of kingly 
blood, 



DEATH OF HAVELOCK. 409 

He wore the double royalty of being Great and 
Good. 

He leaned a trusting hand on Heaven, a gentle 
heart on Ho:.. 

In secret he grew ready, ere the Judgment-Hour 
had come. 

He rose up in our cruel need, and towering on he 
trod, 

Baring his brow to battle bold as humblv to his 
God! 

He rose, and reached the topmost height, our He ro 
lowly born ! 

So from tht- lowly grass hath grown the proud em- 
battled Corn. 

No swerving as he walkt along the roaring earth- 
quake ridge : 

He made a way for Victory: his body was her 
bridge. 

One of the Chivalry of Christ ! he taught us how to 
stand 

With rootage like the Palm, amid the maddest 
whirl of sand. 

When swarming hell had broken bounds, aye sted- 

fast in that hour. 
'Mid the deluge of the devils, as the pillar of our 

power : 
Undaunted while the swarthy storm around him 

swirled and swirled. 
A winding sheet of all white life ! a wild Sahara 

world ! 
We saw the « aves close over him, lost to all human 

view : 
But like an Arrow sent from God, he cleft their 

twelve hosts thro'. 
He battled on in darkness, walking by the inner 

jight. 
Majestic as blind Milton 'mid his watches of the 

night. 



410 DEATH OF HAVELOCK. 



with his name, ' 
He walkt with God, and talkt with God, nor cared 

if following Fame 
Should find him working in the field, or sleeping 

underground : 
Nor did lie mind what resting place, with Heaven 

embracing round. 

In the bloodiest pass of peril, Avith a fame shall 

never dim, 
Died Havelock, the good Soldier ; who would not 

die like him ? 
In grandest strength he fell full-length, and now our 

Hero climbs 
To those who stood up in their day and talkt with 

after-times ! 
He smileth in his heaven now, the Martyr with his 

palm : 
The weary warrior's tired life is crown'd with starry 

calm. 
His labours done; his rest begun ; He only looketh 

back 
To see the blessing flow for those who follow in his 

track. 
On many sailing thro' the storm another Star shall 

shine, 
And they shall look up thro' the dark, and conquer 

at the sign. 
Grand in the mouths of men his fame along the 

centuries runs, 
Women shall read of his brave deed and bear 

heroic sons. 

But while we tell his story, and we talk of his re- 
nown, 

Above they sing his glory ! over us he wears his 
crown. 

His arch of life suspended as it sprang in Heaven, 
appears 



THE NORSEMAN. 411 

A splendid bow of promise, we may see it thro' our 

tears. 
In the dark hour of duty he had seen God's glory 

shewn, 
And now in all his beauty sees the King upon his 

throne ! 
Some Angel-Mute did lead him blind-fold thro' the 

thorny ways, 
Till on a sudden, lo ! he stood full in the glory's 

blaze ! 
Aloud for all the world to hear God called his ser- 
vant's name, 
And led him forth, where all might see, upon the 

heights of fame ! 
And we know not but that England had gone down 

in that red flood, 
If Henry Havelock had not been a chosen Man of 

God. 



THE NORSEMAN. 

A swarthy strength with face of light ; 
As dark sword-iron is beaten bright ; 
A brave, frank look, with health aglow, 
Bonny blue eyes and open brow ; 
His friend he welcomes, heart-in-hand, 
But foot to foot his foe must stand : 
A Man who will face, to his last breath, 
The sternest tacts of life and death : 

This is the brave old Norseman 

The wild wave-motion weird and strange 
Rocks in him ! seaward he must range ; 
His life is just a mighty lust 
To wear away with use not rust ! 
Tho' bitter wintry cold the storm, 



412 THE NORSEMAN. 

The fire within him keeps him warm : 
Kings quiver at his flag unfurled, 
The Sea-King's master of the world ! 

And conquering rides the Norseman. 

He hides at heart, of his rough life, 
A world of sweetness for the Wife'; 
From his rude breast a Babe may press 
Soft milk of human tenderness, — 
Make his eyes water, his heart dance, 
And sunrise in his countenance : 
In merry mood his ale he quaffs 
By firelight, and his jolly heart laughs : 

The blythe/great hearfed Norseman. 

But when the Battle Trumpet rings, 
His soul 's a war-horse clad with vvino-s ! 
He drinks delight in with the breath° 
Of Battle and the dust of death : 
The Axes redden ; spring the sparks; 
Blood-radiant grow the gray mail-sarks : 
Such blows might batter, as they fell, ■ 
Heaven's gates, or burst the booms of hell ! 
So fights the fearless Norseman. 

The Norseman's king must stand up tall 
If he would be head over all ; 
Mainmast of Battle ! when the plain 
Is miery red with bloodv rain ! 
And grip his weapon for the fight, 
Until his knuckles all grow white ; 
Their banner-staff he bears is best 
If double handful for the rest: 

When " follow me " cries the Norseman 

Valiant and true, as Sagas tell, 
The Norseman hated lies like hell ; 
Hardy from cradle to the grave, 
'T was their religion to be brave: 



THE NORSEMAN. 413 

Great, silent fighting men, whose words 
Were few, soon said, and out with Swords ! 
One saw his heart cut from his side 
Living, and smiled ; and smiling, died : 

The unconquerable Norseman. 

They swam the flood ; they strode in flame ; 
Nor quailed when the Valkyrie came 
To kiss the chosen, for her charms, 
With " Rest my Hero, in mine arms." 
Their spirits thro' a grim wide wound, 
The Norse door-way to heaven found ; 
And borne upon the battle blast, 
Into the hall of Heroes passed : 

And there was crowned the Norseman. 

The Norseman wrestled with old Rome, 
For Freedom in our Island Home ; 
He taught us how to ride the sea 
With hempen bridle, horse of tree : 
The Norseman stood with Robin Hood 
By Freedom in the merry green wood, 
When William ruled the English land 
With cruel heart and bloody hand. 

For Freedom fights the Norseman. 

Still in our race the Norse king reigns ; 
His best blood beats along our veins ; 
With his old glory we can glow, 
And surely sail where he could row : 
Is danger stirring ? from its sleep 
Our War-dog wakes his watch to keep, 
Stands with our Banner over him, 
True as of old and stern and grim ! 

Come on, you'll find the Norseman. 

When Swords are gleaming you shall see 
The Norseman's face flash gloriously, 
With look that makes the foe man reel; 



414 ROB Kit T BLAKE. 

His mirror from of old was steel ! 
And still he wields, in Battle's hour, 
The old Thor's hammer of Norse power 
Strikes with a desperate arm of might, 
And at the last tug turns the fight : 

For never yields the Norseman. 



ROBERT BLAKE. 

Our Happy Warrior ! of a race 

To whom are richly given 
Great glory and peculiar grace 

Because in league with Heaven. 
Not that the mortal course they trod 

Was free from briar and thorn ; 
Who bears the arrow mark of God, 

Must first the wound have borne. 

O like a Sailor Saint was he, 

Our Sea-king ! grave and sweet 
In temper after vietory, 

Or cheerful in defeat ; 
And men would leave their quiet home 

To follow in his wake, 
And fight in fire, or float in foam, 

For love of Robert Blake. 

Like that drumhead of Zitska's skin, 

Thrills his heroic name, 
And how the salt-sea-sparkle in 

Us, flashes at his fame ! 
His picture in our hearts' best books 

Still keeps its pride of place, 
From which a noble spirit looks 

With an unfading face ; 



ROBERT BLAKE. 415 

A face as of an Angel, who 

Might live his Boyhood here ! 
And yet how deadly grand it grew, 

When Wrong drew darkening near. 
All ridged, and ready trench'd for war 

The fair frank brow was bent, 
Then flash'd like sudden scimitar, 

The lion lineament. 

Behold him, with his gallant band, 

On leagnered Lyme's red beach. 
Shoulder to shoulder, see them stand, 

At Taunton in the breach. 
Safe through the battle shocks he went, 

With sword-sweep stern and wide ; 
Strode the grim heaps as Death had lent 

Him his White Horse to ride. 

" Give in ! our toils you cannot break ; 

The Lion is in the net ! 
Famine fights for us." " No," said Blake, 

" My boots I have not ate." 
He smiled across the bitter cup ; 

He gripped his good Sword-heft : 
" I should not dream of giving up 

While such a meal is left." 

Where trumpets blow and streamers flow, 

Behold him, calm and proud, 
Bear down upon his bravest foe, 

A bursting thunder-cloud. 
Foremost of all the host that strove 

To crowd Death's open door, 
In giant mood his way he clove, 

The Man to go before. 

And though the battle lightning blazed, 

The thunders roar and roll, 
He to Immortal Beauty raised, 



416 ROUEKT ELAKE. 

A statue with his soul. 
And never did the Greeks of old 

Mirror in marble rare 
A Wrestler of so fine a mould, 

An Athlete half so fair. 

Homeward the dying Sea-king turns 

From his last famous fight, 
For England's dear green hills he yearns 
- At heart, and strains his sight. 
The old qlifis loom out grey and grand, 

The old War-ship glides on, 
With one last wave life tries to land, 

Falls seaward, and is gone. 

With that last leap to touch the coast, 

He passed into his rest, 
And Blake's unwearying arms were crossed 

Upon his martial breast. 
And while our England waits, and twines 

For him her latest wreath, 
His is a crown of stars that shines 

From out the dusk of death. 

For him no pleasant age of ease, 

To wear what youth could win, 
For him no children round his knees, 

To get his harvest in. 
But with a soul serene, he takes 

Whatever lot may come; 
And such a life of labour makes 

A glorious go'ino home. 

Famous old Trueheart, dead and gone, 

Long shall his glory grow, 
Wno never turned his back upon 

A friend, nor face from foe. 
He made them fear old England's name 

Wherever it was heard, 



THE ENGLISH OF IT. 417 

He put her proudest foes to shame, 
For God smiled on his Sword. 

With lofty courage, loftier love, 

He died for England's sake ; 
And 'mid the loftiest lights above, 

Shines our illustrious Blake. — 
And shall shine ! Glory of the West, 

And Beacon for the seas ; 
While Britain bares its sailor breast 

To battle or to breeze. 

Till she forget her old sea-fame, 

Shall England honour him, 
And keep the grave-grass from his name, 

Till her old eyes be dim. 
And long as free waves folding round, 

Brimful with blessing break, 
At heart she holds him, calm and crowned, 

Immortal Robert Blake. 

Great Sailor on the seas of strife ; 

Victor by land and wave ; 
Brave liver of a gallant life ; 

Lord of a glorious grave ; 
True Soldier set on earthly hill 

As Sentinel of heaven ; 
A King who keeps his kingdom till 

The last award be given. 



THE ENGLISH OF IT. 

It was a gallant stand, Tom : 
Give us your hardy hand, Tom : 
For love of the Old Land, Tom, 

We grasp it with good will. 
27 



418 THE ENGLISH OF IT. 

Although you heroes of the Fist 
May think more of the golden grist 
You bring to such a mill. 

'T was brave to see you dash on, Tom, 
And with your one arm lash on, Tom, 
In that true English fashion, Tom, 

Which never will wear out : 
The only fashion that would do, 
At Inkerman and Waterloo, 

And many a bloody bout- 
Through all that punching time, Tom, 
The big heart rode sublime, Tom, 
As we have seen it climb, Tom, 

On other famous fields : 
The temper beaten out with blows, 
That when to give in never knows, 

And so it never yields. 

Valour shall have its crown, Tom, 

In your plain way you have shown, Tom, 

That we can hold our own, Tom, 

Against all comers still ; 
With not one feather of white in us ; 
But game, with lots of fight in us ; 

A heart and a-half up-hill. 

The belt with which we are bound, Tom, 
Is yon blue ocean round, Tom ; 
If any foe be found, Tom, 

Who thinks to take it, then 
He must fight for it till all's dark, 
And one shall go down, red and stark, 

Never to rise again. 

We won our English land, Tom, 
And keep it, hand to hand, Tom, 
Like you at need can stand, Tom — 



SIR RICHARD GRENVILLE'S LAST FIGHT. 419 

Clench hands from shore to shore, 
And clasp it. Touch it who so dares ! 
Our England hath ten thousand Sayers, 

And each as brave a doer. 



SIR RICHARD GRENVILLE'S LAST 
FIGHT. 

Our second Richard Lion Heart, 

In days of Great Queen Bess, 
He did this deed of righteous rage, 

And true old nobleness ; 
With wrath heroic that was nurst 
To bear the fiercest battle-burst, 
When willing foes should wreak their worst. 

Signalled the English Admiral, 
" Weigh or cut anchors." For 

A Spanish fleet bore down, in all 
The majesty of war, 

Athwart our tack for many a mile, 

As there we lay off Florez Isle, 

With crews half sick, all tired of toil. 

Eleven of our twelve ships escaped ; 

Sir Richard stood alone ! 
Though they were three-and-fifty sail — 

A hundred men to one — 
The old sea rover would not run, 
So long as he had man or gun ; 
But he could die when all was done. 

" The Devil 's broken loose, my lads, 
In shape of Popish Spain ; 



420 SIR RICHARD GRENVILLE S LAST ¥IQa.T. 

And we must sink him in the sea, 

Or hound him home again. 
Now, you old sea-dogs, show your paws ! 
Have at them tooth and nail and claws ! " 
And then his long, bright blade he draws. 

The deck was cleared, the boatswain blew ; 

The grim sea-lions stand ; 
The death-fires lit in every eye, 

The burning match in hand. 
With mail of glorious intent . 

All hearts were clad; and in they went, 
A force that cut through where 'twas sent. 

" Push home, my hardy pikemen, 

For we play a desperate part ; 
To-day, my gunners, let them feel 

The pulse of England's heart ! 
They shall remember long that we 
Once lived; and think how shamefully 
We shook them ! — one to fifty-three." 

With face of one who cheerly goes 

To meet his doom that day, 
Sir Richard sprang upon his foes ; 

The foremost gave him way : 
His round shot smashed them through and 

through, 
The great white splinters fiercely flew, 
And madder grew his fighting few. 

They clasp the little ship Revenge, 

As in the arms of fire ; 
They run aboard her, six at once ; 

Hearts beat and guns leap higher. 
Through bloody gaps the boarders swarm, 
But still our English stay the storm, 
The bulwark in their breast is firm. 



SIR RICHARD GRENVILLE's LAST FIGHT. 42] 

Ship after ship, like broken waves 

That wash up on a rock, 
Those mighty galleons fall back foiled, 

And shattered from the shock. 
With fire she answers all their blows ; 
Again, again in pieces straws 
The burning girdle of her fo.es. 

Through all the. night the great white storm 

Of worlds in silence rolled ; 
Sirius with his sapphire sparkle, 

Mars in ruddy gold. 
Heaven looked with stillness terrible 
Down on a fight most fierce and fell — 
A sea transfigured into hell. 

Some know not of their wounds until 

'Tis slippery where they stand; 
Then each one tighter grips his steel, 

As 't were salvation's hand. 
Wild faces glow through lurid night 
With sweat of spirit shining bright : 
Only the dead on deck turn white. 

At daybreak the flame-picture fades, 

In blackness and in blood ; 
There, after fifteen hours of fight, 

The unconquered Sea King stood, 
Defying all the poAver of Spain : 
Fifteen Armadas hurled in vain, 
And fifteen hundred foemen slain. 

Around that little bark Revenge, 

The baffled Spaniards ride 
At distance. Two of their good ships 

Were sunken at her side ; 
The rest lie round her in a ring, 
As round the dying lion king 
The dogs afraid of his death-spring. 



122 SIR RICHARD GRENVILLE'S LAST FIGHT. 

Our pikes all broken, powder spent, 
Sails, masts to shreds were blown ; 

And with her dead and wounded crew 
The ship was going down ! 

Sir Richard's wounds were hot and deep. 

Then cried he, with a proud, pale lip, 

" Ho, gunner, split and sink the ship! 

" Make ready now, my mariners, 

To go aloft with me, 
That nothing to the Spaniard 

May remain of victory. 
They cannot take us, nor we yield ; 
So let us leave our battle-field, 
Under the shelter of God's shield." 

They had not heart to dare fulfil 

The stern commander's word : 
With bloody hands and weeping eyes, 

They carried him aboard 
The Spaniards' ship ; and round him stand 
The warriors of his wasted band : 
Then said he, feeling death at hand, 

" Here die I, Richard Grenville, 

With a joyful and quiet mind ; 
I reach a soldier's end ; I leave 

A soldier's fame behind, 
Who for his queen and country fought, 
For honour and religion wrought, 
And died as a true soldier ought." 

Earth never returned a worthier trust 

For hand of Heaven to take, 
Since Arthur's sword, Excalibur, 

Was cast into the lake, 
And the king's grievous wounds were dressed, 
And healed, by weeping queens, who blessed, 
And bore him to a valley of rest. 



SIR RICHARD GRENVILLE'S LAST FIGHT. 423 

Old heroes who could grandly do, 

As they could greatly dare ; 
A vesture, very glorious, 

Their shining spirits wear, 
Of noble deeds. God give us grace, 
That we may see such face to face, 
In our great day that comes apace. 



THE END. 



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